Kenneth Kiyoto Kawami, Former Staff Member
Mr. Kenneth Kiyoto Kawami, Former Staff Member, passed away on January 26, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska.
Kenneth Kiyoto Kawami, September 5, 1918 – January 26, 2018. Born in Fresno, California, Ken’s parents worked on a local farm. Ken graduated from Edison Technical High School in Fresno and in 1940 was employed as a teacher in a private school. At the outbreak of World War II, as part of the resettlement effort by the United States, Ken was taken from Fresno to the Japanese Internment Camp in Gila River, Arizona. It is there that he met his wife Bessie and they were married on July 3, 1943 at the camp in Gila River then moved to Fort Bliss, Texas where Ken was stationed. Ken, known by his family name, Kiyoto, enlisted in the Army in March of 1941 and served with honor and distinction in the European theater in an all Japanese-American unit. The following is an excerpt from the Friday, September 21, 1945, Gila Bulletin, Gila River, Arizona.
"Sgt. Kenneth Kawami, recently discharged from the Army, is employed as a counselor at Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home at Boys Town, Nebraska. With his wife, the former Bessie Nakanishi from Gila, and son David, age twenty months, he is living at the Drexel Apartments, 618 ½ North 16th Street, in Omaha. Kenneth was one of the first five men inducted from Fresno, California, and for eighty days was in the hospital in France. He is a member of the American Legion in Omaha."
"Sgt. Kenneth Kawami, recently discharged from the Army, is employed as a counselor at Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home at Boys Town, Nebraska. With his wife, the former Bessie Nakanishi from Gila, and son David, age twenty months, he is living at the Drexel Apartments, 618 ½ North 16th Street, in Omaha. Kenneth was one of the first five men inducted from Fresno, California, and for eighty days was in the hospital in France. He is a member of the American Legion in Omaha."
After the war, Ken settled in Omaha and worked at Boys Town for 32 years serving in a number of different capacit
ies including being a counselor. Many will remember Ken from days in the grade school when he ran the Canteen which was operated out of the old administration building that was connected to the old gymnasium (now known as the Wegner Gym). It was fondly called “Ken’s Gyp Joint” where you could buy a soda (pop in the Nebraska vernacular) and a bag of popcorn for 10 cents. The Canteen was a favorite after school hangout and boys were regaled by stories spun in a very humorous way by Ken. Later Ken would operate the Boys Town Bank prior to his retirement in the late 1970s.
ies including being a counselor. Many will remember Ken from days in the grade school when he ran the Canteen which was operated out of the old administration building that was connected to the old gymnasium (now known as the Wegner Gym). It was fondly called “Ken’s Gyp Joint” where you could buy a soda (pop in the Nebraska vernacular) and a bag of popcorn for 10 cents. The Canteen was a favorite after school hangout and boys were regaled by stories spun in a very humorous way by Ken. Later Ken would operate the Boys Town Bank prior to his retirement in the late 1970s.
Over the years after his retirement Ken was a regular attendee at Boys Town retiree gatherings and attended alumni reunions held at the Home. His wife Bessie passed away in 2008 and Ken lived alone until he recently moved into the Good Samaritan Center in Millard. His life was celebrated with his church family at the Benson Church of Christ on January 29, 2018. Ken is survived by his son David of Brooklyn, New York. Photos: Upper Left. Ken wearing his Boys Town sweater shortly before his passing.
Middle Right. Picture of Ken from a Boys Town Yearbook in the 1950s.
Lower Left: Ken receiving a recognition plaque from the Boys Town National Alumni Association. Standing behind Ken is Jim Congrove, '64, member of the BTNAA Board of Directors.