Kenneth "Ken" Mori

Kenneth Y. Mori of Lodi, CA passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 31, 2025. He was the youngest son of eight children born to Mr. Naohiko and Mrs. Kijiu Mori in Kapa'a, Kaua'i, Hawai'i. Ken attended the University of Hawaii where he met Stan Yamanaka of Maui, HI. The two grew to be close friends who enlisted in the ROTC. Upon graduating with B.S. degrees in Engineering, Ken and Stan joined the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War. Following completion of their deployment, Ken and Stan applied for positions at CalTrans in Stockton, CA, and accepted positions in highway transportation planning and design. Stan and his childhood sweetheart, Nancy Sakata of Maui, HI, moved to Stockton, CA. Ken moved to Stockton, CA a short time afterward where Stan and Nancy introduced Ken to Nancy's sister, Patsy Sakata, who unbeknownst to Ken would become the love of his life and marry a few years later. Together, the foursome explored the U.S. mainland by car and later built homes next door to each other in Lodi, CA. Ken's personal life's philosophy was always to "Do your best at everything you do" for a real sense of pride and confidence in work well done. His philosophy was evident in Ken's love of gardening. Ken grew persimmons, lemons, limes, pears, figs, kiwi fruit, cherries, and a variety of herbs and vegetables in his backyard gardens to which he faithfully tended. Relationships were important to Ken. Each Autumn, Ken and Patsy harvested persimmons and shared with family, friends, and neighbors as fresh fruit, dried fruit, and fruit rollups. Ken worked to keep family and friends connected as his family did back home on Kaua'i. Ken often offered their home to family and friends to share meals together or invited them to local Lodi restaurants to catch up. Ken loved fishing and shared his interest with his sons taking them to Lake Alpine, CA, to fish for Rainbow Trout or to Point Reyes, CA, to fish for Perch. On those trips, Patsy made a traditional Japanese picnic lunch for the family and later in the evening at home Ken and Patsy prepared delicious fresh catch of the day for dinner. During Ken's 25+ years tenure at CalTrans, Ken traveled state-wide to evaluate highway infrastructure, Ken discovered fantastic places to explore and dine. Always ready to share adventures, Ken invited family and friends on weekend road trips. One memorable day trip was to the Harris Ranch in Coalinga, CA, which finished with a wonderful and satisfying meal, a trip well worth the long drive, naps along the way and fielding his sons' frequent question, "Are we there yet?". Other memorable trips were to Yosemite National Park, where they camped and hiked each Summer. Ken's wife of 31 years, Patsy Mori, preceded his death in 1995. Ken is survived by his youngest sister Barbara Won and husband Yoon-Ju Won of Seattle, WA, and Ken's sons Kenneth Mori of Sacramento, CA, and Neal Mori of Chicago, IL. Please leave your condolences below. Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Mori family.