Fred H. Nagata

Fred H. Nagata, formerly of Lodi and Galt, passed away on January 11, 2021 at the UCD Med Center in Sacramento. Fred was born on September 23, 1941 to Masaaki and Shizue Nagata in Sacramento, CA. He attended Lodi schools and graduated from Lodi High School and later from Delta College and the University of California at Davis where he met his wife, Joyce.
Fred is survived by his wife of 55 years, Joyce, daughter, Mieko (Mark) Mendenhall and the light of his life, grandson, Mason, and step-grandson, Cayden. He also leaves behind his siblings; Judy Watanabe, Philip Nagata, and Roy (Cheryl) Nagata. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Phyllis Bruns.
Fred's early life included being interned during WWII at Tule Lake Relocation Center. After being released from the camp his family returned to the Lodi area where he helped his father farm strawberries. While at UC Davis, Fred was a member of the Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity and played baseball for the Aggies. After graduation he took a job with a company selling insecticides and pesticides to farmers. However, after about a year of working he was inducted for military service. Instead of serving the mandatory two years in the army, Fred elected to attend Officer Candidate School. He left the army as a First Lieutenant and returned to his job in the Gilroy area.
But, Fred wanted to farm so he moved to Lodi, purchased a grape vineyard and worked for San Joaquin Sulphur. Later he also farmed cherries and formed a partnership, F&R Farms, with his brother, Roy. He also worked for the US Department of Agriculture from which he retired.
Fred was active in the Lodi community, serving on the Board of the Lodi District Grape Growers Assn. He also helped to establish and served as President of the Lodi Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League and he served several terms as President of the Buddhist Church of Lodi.
Golfing and fishing were two of Fred's favorite pastimes. However, he enjoyed the sport of softball and coached girl's softball for the City of Lodi for a number of years and the Lodi HS Varsity softball team. He and Joyce also spent countless hours at his daughter's softball games traveling with her UOP softball team and with the NorCal Tremors summer competitive team.
Fred and Joyce just moved to West Sacramento at the end of October. They were fortunate to find a house just 5 houses down the street from their daughter's family. Although he did not live there long, he thoroughly enjoyed daily visits from Mason and Mieko.
Over the years, Fred has made many lasting relationships with people from all different parts of his life's journey as well as his wife's and daughter's. He will be missed by many and always remembered as a friendly guy willing to spark up a conversation with just about anyone and give you a big hug when you parted company.
A private immediate family service has been scheduled. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled for late summer or fall 2021.