NikkeiWest--Northern California Japanese American Newspaper

Kay Cooper, 77, of San Ramon, died peacefully on Sept. 27. Daughter of Nobukichi Takakuwa and Yuki Mabel (Nakahara) Takakuwa. Survived by her sons Scott and Jeff Cooper, granddaughter Cassidy Cooper, and siblings Yoshio Takakuwa, May Kimura, Tomi Gyotoku, Michi Lai. Memorial services will be held at the Christ United Presbyterian Church; 1700 Sutter St; San Francisco on Nov. 5, at 2 p.m.

Peggy Nobuko Hayashida Ledward, 84, resident of Oakland, died on Aug. 20. Born in Hilo, HI on April 8, 1927. Preceded in death by son, Rex F. Ledward; she is survived by sons Lyle Peter and Curt ex-husband Richard; three brothers, four sisters, nine grand kids; and four great-grand kids. Elevator operator at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki. Moved to Oakland in 1958, but kept her aloha spirit. Cafeteria manager at St Mary’s college. Owned a corner grocery store for over 10 years. Worked at Wilco Supply over 30 years stating “those were my best days”. Loved to spend time with her family loved to travel. Peggy will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.

Broderick Kazuto Koga passed away peacefully on July 30, in Seattle, Washington. He was born in Stockton on Sept. 19, 1958, the second of four children. He graduated from Tokay High School in Lodi, and attended Chico State University in California, where he studied computer science. He moved to Seattle in 1987 where he worked at Payless, which eventually became Rite Aid, where he worked for many years, before suffering a severe head injury at work. Brody enjoyed flying kites, listening to music, bicycling, movies and cooking for friends. He went from tinkering with toasters in his childhood to building and programming computers as an adult. Friends and family remember him as a very hard working, kind and helpful man who was always willing to lend a hand. He is preceded in death by his father, Davis Koga. He is survived by his mother, Gail Koga of Stockton; sister, Kelly Brock and family of Capitola; sister, Ellen Shiromizu and family of Pleasanton; brother, Eric Koga and family of Lodi; and many cousins, aunts and uncles. He was a beloved son, uncle, brother, cousin, nephew, and grandson. We will miss his warm, sweet disposition and his smile.

Yoko Moro Kaneko, 83, resident of Carefree, AZ, passed away on July 3. Yoko was born on May 31, 1928 in Tokyo, Japan, one of seven children. She graduated from Kyoritsu University in Tokyo. Yoko came to America and studied art at the University of Utah and at New York State University in Buffalo. She became a naturalized American citizen. She married Thomas Kaneko in Kenmore, New York. Yoko and Tom lived in Trenton, Michigan where Tom, as a PhD, was employed in scientific research. They moved to Campbell, California when Tom retired. Yoko was a gifted artist. She graduated from The Art School of the Society of Arts and Crafts in Detroit. Many of her paintings and drawings were displayed in exhibitions and in various art galleries around the country. Yoko moved to The Heritage in Carefree in 2005 from California. She was preceded in death by her husband Tom, brother Noboru and sister Tsukiko. Yoko is survived by sisters Yuriko and Akiko, brother Susumu, all in Japan, sister Kazuko and brother-in-law Richard, in Scottsdale and nieces and nephews in the U.S. and Canada. Yoko was a very talented, happy, friendly and out-going person. She loved life and her many paintings reflected her close relationship with the beauties of nature.