James
L. 'Jim' Kawata
James L. ‘Jim’ Kawata, 59, of Grand Island, died Sunday, February 26, 2012, at home.
A memorial service will be 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 5 at All Faiths
Funeral Home. Dan Naranjo will officiate.
Jim was born April 10, 1952, at Ord, NE, the son of Jiro ‘Joe’ Kawata and Dolores (Hurlbert) Kawata. He grew up in Grand Island, graduating from Grand Island Senior High School in 1971.
He enjoyed golf, going to the horse races, tennis, hunting, collecting stamps and coins, and enjoyed artwork, especially photography. Jim was also active in little league baseball and was a coach for the youth basketball at the YMCA.
Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Ryan and his fiancé Jamie Swartz of Lincoln, Kayla and her husband Thomas Hudiburgh of Ogallala, Justin Kawata of Grand Island and Nolan Kawata of Grand Island; brothers and their wives, Jeff and Ann Kawata of Broken Bow and David Kawata of Greeley, CO; and a sister and her husband, Cathy and Ron Christensen of Grand Island.
Those also left to cherish his memory are a granddaughter, Halle Hudiburgh and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorials are suggested to the family.