WALLACE KENSO KAGAWA Architect and 442 Veteran Wallace Kenso Kagawa passed away on January 3, 2015, at the age of 97. Born Kenso Kagawa in Honolulu in July, 1917, he graduated from McKinley HS Class of 1937 and from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Architecture. In 1943 he joined the Anti- Tank Company of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, serving in Italy and France. He flew in glider missions in the invasion of Southern France in August of 1944, surviving a crash in which both pilots were killed. After the war he earned his M.S. in Architecture and moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he married Yori Yamasaki, a registered nurse from Modesto, California. They raised three children, Kathryn, Paul and Kenneth. Wallace worked for the architectural firm of Minoru Yamasaki and helped design the World Trade Center in New York and the Jeddah Airport Pavilion in Saudi Arabia. In 1984 he and Yori returned to Hawaii, residing in Kaneohe. He earned a black belt in Aikido at age 72. He was active in the 442nd Veterans Club, the Hiroshima Historical Heritage Society and Church of the Crossroads. Later they moved to the Hawaii Kai retirement community where Yori died in 2008. Wallace is survived by sons Paul and Kenneth, grandson Kenso and wife Lauren Kagawa, granddaughter Alicia and husband Tim Koide, and great-grandson Kanoa Koide. An inurnment ceremony will be held at Punchbowl Cemetery on Monday, January 19, at 10:30am.
WALLACE KENSO KAGAWA Architect and 442 Veteran Wallace Kenso Kagawa passed away on January 3, 2015, at the age of 97. Born Kenso Kagawa in Honolulu in July, 1917, he graduated from McKinley HS Class of 1937 and from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Architecture. In 1943 he joined the Anti- Tank Company of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, serving in Italy and France. He flew in glider missions in the invasion of Southern France in August of 1944, surviving a crash in which both pilots were killed. After the war he earned his M.S. in Architecture and moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he married Yori Yamasaki, a registered nurse from Modesto, California. They raised three children, Kathryn, Paul and Kenneth. Wallace worked for the architectural firm of Minoru Yamasaki and helped design the World Trade Center in New York and the Jeddah Airport Pavilion in Saudi Arabia. In 1984 he and Yori returned to Hawaii, residing in Kaneohe. He earned a black belt in Aikido at age 72. He was active in the 442nd Veterans Club, the Hiroshima Historical Heritage Society and Church of the Crossroads. Later they moved to the Hawaii Kai retirement community where Yori died in 2008. Wallace is survived by sons Paul and Kenneth, grandson Kenso and wife Lauren Kagawa, granddaughter Alicia and husband Tim Koide, and great-grandson Kanoa Koide. An inurnment ceremony will be held at Punchbowl Cemetery on Monday, January 19, at 10:30am.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
