Jimmie Morinaga

1929 - 2025

Jimmie Morinaga, a longtime Oregon Slope farmer, passed away peacefully on the morning of September 30, 2025, at a Fruitland, ID care center. He was 95 years of age. Jim was born October 16, 1929, to Yonezo and Setsu Morinaga in Thomas, WA. He was the seventh of ten children. Jim attended schools in Thomas and Auburn, WA. When World War II broke out, Jim and his entire family were relocated to the Pinedale Assembly Center (Fresno, CA), then to Tule Lake (CA) Interment Camp, and eventually to the Heart Mountain Interment Camp near Cody, WY. Jim continued his education during his internment and graduated from Ontario High School in 1947.
Following their release from Heart Mountain, the family relocated from Wyoming to the Oregon Stope area of Ontario, OR. In Ontario, they resumed farming, as they had done prior to being removed from their farm in Washington state. After high school, Jim farmed with his parents and brothers until he joined the US Army and honorably served his country. When he returned from military service in Germany in 1956, Jim and his family created Morinaga Farms. Jim was known as a hard worker and excellent farmer. His crops were of very good quality with exceptional yields. Although farming kept him busy, he always made time for fishing with his nephews and nieces, as well as bowling during the winter months with the Nisei League.
Family members will always remember Uncle Jimmie for his sense of humor, kindness, and generosity. Jim and his mother, Grandma Morinaga, hosted family members for many years of mochi making and New Year's Day dinner at the farm house on Ivy Road. Jim's mother and older sisters referred to him as "Jimito", a term of endearment.
Jim Morinaga will probably be best remembered for his mild mannerism and tremendous generosity. He raised sweet corn, red potatoes, daikon, nappa, and gobo for decades to share with family, neighbors, and friends. He was also famous for his apple pies, Japanese pickles (narazuke) and beautiful gladiolas. Jim's legacy is his friendship with neighbors on the Oregon Slope. Most of Jim's friends have gone before him, however, their children remain and he will be long remembered.
Jim Morinaga was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Teruko, Marian Ota, Momoko Kido, Lillian Kitamura, and Violet Yagi, as well as his brothers Kaz, Frank, Benny, and George (Porky). He is survived by brother-in-law Jan (Violet) Yagi of San Francisco and sister-in-law Kathleen (Benny) Morinaga of Carson City, NV. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and many great and great-great nieces and nephews. Jim was a wonderful and much-loved son, brother, and uncle and his family will miss him very much.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Dr. Ryan David and his staff, personal care provider David Little, and the staff at Grace Assisted Living for the love and care provided to Uncle Jimmie in the last years of his life.
Funeral services will be held on November 8, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple, 286 SE 4th St, Ontario, Oregon.