Businessman kept Longmont in heart
By Virginia Culver Denver Post Staff Writer
Jimmie Kanemoto never stopped being grateful for the warm way he and other Japanese-Americans were treated in Colorado during World War II.
His response was to give, give, give to the city of Longmont, which was his home for most of his 89 years.
Kanemoto, a vegetable farmer who became a leading businessman in Longmont, died Dec. 5 at Longmont United Hospital.
Colorado was unique in its treatment of more than 7,000 Japanese-Americans who were brought from the West Coast and interned at a relocation camp in southeast Colorado.
Then-Gov. Ralph Carr insisted they be treated with respect - a stand that effectively ended his political career.
Colorado Japanese-Americans weren't interned, but Kanemoto was grateful for Carr's stand, and he always felt well-treated by Longmont residents. Son Ken Kanemoto of Longmont said the family had lived there long enough that they were always accepted.
Jimmie Kanemoto "could not give enough to our community and had a sense of humility that wouldn't stop," said longtime friend Leona Stoecker, a former Longmont mayor.
"Dad just felt so fortunate, and he just wanted to thank the people and the city," Ken Kanemoto said.
He thanked them a lot. He gave hundreds of acres of land, where the city built an elementary school, fire station, school-administration office and greenways. Other land gifts went for a Buddhist temple, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and a park.
In the park, named for the family, stands a five-story pagoda the Kanemotos had constructed. Called the Tower of Compassion, the 60-foot steel, aluminum and cedar tower represents love, empathy, understanding, gratitude and selflessness.
The Rotary, which sponsors the tower, gives annual compassion awards in his name.
Kanemoto was active in scores of organizations, including Rotary, Tri-State Buddhist Church, Governor's Mission to Japan, Japan American Society of Colorado and Longmont Community Hospital.
He was given awards from the cities of Longmont and Boulder, Buddhist Church of America, International Rotary and the Order of the Rising Sun, an award from the emperor of Japan.
Jimmie T. Kanemoto was born in La Salle on May 2, 1917, and moved to Longmont with his family when he was 2.
His father, Goroku Kanemoto, left Japan and was planning to go to Canada but got off the train in Denver, liked it, rented some farmland in the La Salle area and stayed.
Jimmie Kanemoto graduated from Longmont High School. He married Chiyo Miyasaki in 1944. She died in 1999.
He and his brother, George, had a lifetime partnership, first in a vegetable farm south of Longmont and later in Kane Manufacturing Supply Co., which sold irrigation-equipment products that Jimmie Kanemoto patented.
By Virginia Culver Denver Post Staff Writer
Jimmie Kanemoto never stopped being grateful for the warm way he and other Japanese-Americans were treated in Colorado during World War II.
His response was to give, give, give to the city of Longmont, which was his home for most of his 89 years.
Kanemoto, a vegetable farmer who became a leading businessman in Longmont, died Dec. 5 at Longmont United Hospital.
Colorado was unique in its treatment of more than 7,000 Japanese-Americans who were brought from the West Coast and interned at a relocation camp in southeast Colorado.
Then-Gov. Ralph Carr insisted they be treated with respect - a stand that effectively ended his political career.
Colorado Japanese-Americans weren't interned, but Kanemoto was grateful for Carr's stand, and he always felt well-treated by Longmont residents. Son Ken Kanemoto of Longmont said the family had lived there long enough that they were always accepted.
Jimmie Kanemoto "could not give enough to our community and had a sense of humility that wouldn't stop," said longtime friend Leona Stoecker, a former Longmont mayor.
"Dad just felt so fortunate, and he just wanted to thank the people and the city," Ken Kanemoto said.
He thanked them a lot. He gave hundreds of acres of land, where the city built an elementary school, fire station, school-administration office and greenways. Other land gifts went for a Buddhist temple, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and a park.
In the park, named for the family, stands a five-story pagoda the Kanemotos had constructed. Called the Tower of Compassion, the 60-foot steel, aluminum and cedar tower represents love, empathy, understanding, gratitude and selflessness.
The Rotary, which sponsors the tower, gives annual compassion awards in his name.
Kanemoto was active in scores of organizations, including Rotary, Tri-State Buddhist Church, Governor's Mission to Japan, Japan American Society of Colorado and Longmont Community Hospital.
He was given awards from the cities of Longmont and Boulder, Buddhist Church of America, International Rotary and the Order of the Rising Sun, an award from the emperor of Japan.
Jimmie T. Kanemoto was born in La Salle on May 2, 1917, and moved to Longmont with his family when he was 2.
His father, Goroku Kanemoto, left Japan and was planning to go to Canada but got off the train in Denver, liked it, rented some farmland in the La Salle area and stayed.
Jimmie Kanemoto graduated from Longmont High School. He married Chiyo Miyasaki in 1944. She died in 1999.
He and his brother, George, had a lifetime partnership, first in a vegetable farm south of Longmont and later in Kane Manufacturing Supply Co., which sold irrigation-equipment products that Jimmie Kanemoto patented.
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1 comments:
wish I did know him, i'm glad I got to know a little about him through your stories though ;) great man
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