Obituary of Roger Tokunaga

ROGER TOKUNAGA OBITUARY April 15, 1932 - July 31, 2022 Roger Tokunaga, a longtime resident of Yuba City, departed from us in the early hours of July 31, 2022, at Adventist Rideout Hospital. Roger was born on April 15, 1932, and aside from time spent during military, schooling and confinement he lived his entire life in Sacramento and Sutter County. In 1942, just before his 10th birthday, Roger was confined along with his parents, three sisters and five brothers in an internment camp for Japanese American in Amache, CO during World War II. Roger returned to the Yuba City area and graduated from Yuba City High School in 1949. He went on to Yuba College in 1951, before attending the University of California at Berkeley where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering in 1956. While a student, Roger served in the US Army during the Korean War as the Division Operations (G-3) Sergeant and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service. He married the love of his life, Irene, on June 29, 1957. He was employed for three years at the Sonoma County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. He then went on to Gillett, Harris, Duranceau and Associates for 14 years as a Senior and Principal Civil Engineer. He completed his career with 19 years as co-owner of von Geldern Engineering. He was registered as a Professional Engineer in California, Oregon and Nevada and was the project engineer for numerous projects in Lake County, Tahoe-Donner area, Beale and McClellan AFB, Micronesia and South America. Roger was a member of the National California Society of Professional Engineers, life member of the University of California Alumni Association, President of the Marysville Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League and served many years on the cabinet and Board of Directors of the Marysville Buddhist Church. He was a life member of the Japanese American Korean War Veterans and VFW as well as a member of the Sons in Retirement Branch 45. He was appointed to the Sutter County Fish and Game Commission. He served on the Yuba City and Sutter County Engineering Personnel interview boards and on the Standards Committee and also served as Interim City Engineer for Yuba County Blue Ribbon Committee for Sewage Disposal Standards. Roger was a die-hard Kings, 49er's, Cal Bears and Giants fan. He was an avid fisherman and golfer and was a charter member of the Peach Bowl Anglers and Golf Club as well as a member of the Plumas Lake and Colusa Golf and Country Clubs. Roger is survived by his daughter, Julie Tokunaga (Chris Jones) of Gresham OR; sons, Dean Tokunaga of Roseville, CA; Ron (Kris) Tokunaga of San Diego, CA; grandsons, Colton Tokunaga of Sacramento, and Sean Tokunaga of Fullerton, CA; sister-in-law, Kach Kashima of Yuba City; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A famly memorial service for Roger Tokunaga will be held at 11:00 am on Sunday, October 16, 2022, at the Marysville Buddhist Church located at 125 "B" Street, Marysville. In lieu of flowers, donations in Roger's memory may be made to the Marysville Buddhist Church, P.O. Box 1463, Marysville, CA 95901-1462. Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of Ullrey Memorial Chapel, 530-673-9542.