Joe Yoshio Ota, 85, of Sandy Utah. Passed away suddenly, on November 18, 2015 at the IHC medical Center in Murray, Utah due to heart failure. He was a beloved husband, father, uncle, and grandfather.
Joe was born on January 13, 1930 in Loomis, CA to Ryoji and Yaeno Ota. His family moved to Newcastle, CA and then finally settled in Lincoln, CA. During World War II, the Ota family along with many other families of Japanese descent living along the West Coast of the United States were ordered to pack their belongings and relocate to the Tule Lake Interment Camp. He was interred in the camp from 1942 to 1946. After which, the Ota family moved to Sandy, Utah and then moved a second time to Draper, Utah to help farm with the Akagi Family. Joe attended, Jordan High School and graduated in 1948.
On 2/6/51, Joe enlisted in the United States Army at Fort Douglas, UT. He served in the Korean Conflict as a MP and was honorably discharged from the army in 1956. Joe and Shigeko (Yokota) married in 1968 in Kobe, Japan after a two year courtship. They returned to the US and purchased their own home in Sandy, Utah. Soon after, Joe\s daughter, Shauna was born in 1970.
Joe was employed by the General Electric Company as a turbine motor winder (electrician); these turbines were used in aircrafts and water dams. Joe was a member of the Japanese Church of Christ and attended church faithfully for 47 years. Joe loved bowling and played in many bowling leagues and also enjoyed fishing the many lakes in Utah. He loved talking to his friends at church, watching TV and movies, and good food to eat. He could always be found around the food table and enjoyed a good laugh.
Joe is survived by his wife of 47 years, Shigeko, daughter, Shauna (Daren) Pearce, and brother, Harry Ota. He loved his grandchildren, Ian, Isaac, and Matthew Pearce. and nephews, Mark Akagi, Kenneth Akagi, Michael Akagi, Troy Akagi, and niece Pauline (Akagi) Sullivan. He is preceded in death by his parents, Ryogi Ota and Yaeno Nigo Ota. Brother, Jack Ota, sister, Susie Akagi and brother-in-law, Utaka Akagi.
A service of remembrance will be held at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E. Dimple Dell Road, Sandy, Utah on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at 11:00 am. A viewing will be held from 10 am to 11:00 that same morning. Interment is also at Larkin Sunset Gardens.
The family would like to thank the EMTs, the doctors and medical staff at the ICU at IHC Medical Center in Murray. Also a thank you the employees at Larry H. Miller Toyota who helped in getting Joe medical attention.
