Jimmy K. Nakano passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 4, 2018 at a nursing home in Spokane due to complications from Parkinson’s.  He was 82.  

Jim was born on March 12, 1935 in Seattle, WA to Tom Noboru and Yukiye Nakano.  The family moved to Eastern Oregon in 1937 and settled in a farming community near Ontario, OR.  He graduated from Ontario High School in 1953.

He attended Oregon Technical Institute (now known as Oregon Institute of Technology) after high school until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1955.  He served in the Army until he was honorably discharged at the rank of sergeant in 1957 and moved back to Ontario to work on the family farm.

Jim married Teruko “Terry” Harada in 1959.  He and Terry ran the family farm together until his retirement from farming in 1998.  Jim was active in the agricultural community and he participated in numerous local and state organizations while he was farming and during his retirement.  Some of Jim’s recent activities were as a board member on the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, commissioner on the Oregon Water Resources Commission, member of the Local Advisors Committee for Northwest Farm Credit Services and Malheur County Commissioner. 

Jim had a passion for bird hunting during his younger years and enjoyed fishing with his family as well.  He loved having dogs and cats at home over the years as part of the family.  He also enjoyed golf and watching most sporting events, especially the Seattle Mariners.  Jim and Terry moved to Spokane, WA, in 2012 to be closer to family and became avid Gonzaga basketball fans attending several games over the years.

Jim is survived by his wife of 59 years. His son, Tom Nakano, and daughter-in-law, Carol Magness, also survive him. 

A Celebration of Life event is planned for Jim at the Four Rivers Cultural Center in Ontario, OR on March 3, 2018 from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Contributions in Jim’s memory may be sent to:

Oregon State University Foundation

Attention:  6220-896170 - Malheur Agriculture Research & Extension Center

850 SW 35th Street

Corvallis, OR  97333-4015

OR  Providence Adult Day Health

6018 N Astor Street

Spokane, WA  99208

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