Kazumi Fukuda

Mr. Kazumi Fukuda passed away peacefully at his home in South Surrey on February 26, 2019, with close family by his side.


The eldest of eight children, he was born on December 6, 1944, to parents Yoshie Hoshi & Tomo Fukuda in Hokkaido, Japan. Kaz graduated from Yakumo High School, achieving top marks on the government's agricultural department examination, which led to his first job as an agricultural quarantine inspector.


However, he soon grew dissatisfied with the routine of government work. Inspired by the growing influence of American culture, Kaz took a leap of faith and emigrated to the West. After struggling with various odd jobs in the U.S. and Canada, he found his true calling: becoming a master journeyman carpenter.


For more than 30 years, Kaz built and renovated homes all across the Lower Mainland and in Japan. Kaz enjoyed an amazing career not only as a builder, but also as a teacher of carpentry at Royal Oak College, building lifelong friendships with students and faculty alike.


Kaz met his future wife, Masumi Hattori in Vancouver in 1974. Kaz and Masumi were married for 24 years, until her death in 1998 to pancreatic cancer. After her passing, Kaz attended services at various churches, making many wonderful friends in the Christian community in both the U.S. and Canada.


Kaz is survived by his son Steve in Los Angeles. He is also survived in Japan by his mother Tomo, brothers Hisaji, Masanobu, Misao, sisters Takako and Toyoko, as well as several nephews and nieces and their children. In addition to his wife Masumi, he was predeceased by his father Yoshie, brother Mamoru, and sister Masako.