Isamu Sam Kashiwagi

1926 - 2023

Isamu Sam Kashiwagi
April 2, 1926 - March 16, 2023
Sacramento, California - Isamu Sam Kashiwagi was born to Yoshizuke and Misa (Ikeshita) Kashiwagi on April 2, 1926, and passed away on March 16, 2023. He had four brothers, William, Paul, Mas, and George, and leaves behind one sister, Natsuko.
Sam attended grammar school in Florin, CA, Elk Grove High School, and graduated from Sacramento State College. He worked for the State of California, Franchise Tax Board, as an auditor and spent four years in Chicago to be closer to the clients he audited. During WWII, he joined the U.S. Army, and as a military soldier, he was a translator of intercepted war transmissions. His volunteer work spanned many organizations - the Sacramento Youth Band, the Wakayama Kenjin-Kai, and the Florin Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), who recently honored him with the Okagesame de award. Sam also served on the board of the California State University Library Japanese-American Archival Collection, was active with the Florin Methodist Church MYF, was a member of the Sacramento Japanese United Methodist Church, and helped with the Asian Community Center Bingo and the South Sacramento Tanoshimi-Kai.
In his retirement days, he took care of his wife, Betty (Fujimoto) Kashiwagi until she passed in 2013, after 62 years of marriage. Sam enjoyed the casinos - his favorite being Red Hawk. In January 2022, he was admitted to the ACC Care Center, where he entered under hospice care, but "graduated" into long-term care in June 2022. In March 2023, he found himself in hospice care again. Sam is survived by his son David, daughter Sandra, and son Wesley. His daughter Mary Ann passed away in 2010. He also leaves behind two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He will be laid to rest at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, CA, where a military service will be held on Thursday, May 25th at 2 p.m.