October 30, 1929 - March 14, 2021
It is with heavy hearts, the announcement of the sudden passing of Ben Tsutomu Yamamura a great loving husband, father, uncle, brother, friend and community member.
Ben Tsutomu Yamamura born on October 30th, 1929 in Kitsilano, Vancouver, BC passed peacefully on March 14th 2021 at Boundary Hospital in Grand Forks, BC at the age of 91.
Ben is preceded by his father Samuel, his mother Tumiki and his (5) brothers, Teddy, Butch, Jeep, Henry, Jimmy and survived by his sisters June (Haraga) and Amy (Burton) and his 2 sons Anthony and Andrew.
Ben attended Henry Hudson elementary school in Kitsilano, BC. As a child, he was a great swimmer and loved to hang out at Kitsilano beach and pool. Unfortunately due to the war he and his family were uprooted and interned in the Slocan Valley until the end of the war.
After internment he and his family moved to Japan where his first son was born. Eventually, the family came back to BC and Ben would settled in Greenwood with his wife and son having two more son's thereafter and resided for remainder of his life.
After arriving in Greenwood, BC Ben worked for Cooks mill up until it burnt down, then at Pope & Talbot sawmill in Midway, BC up until he retired. Earlier on Ben was an active member of the Greenwood Judo club. He like to hang out at the pool hall with his friends and play pea pool. He loved to curler and played in Greenwood's bonspiels winning many trophies with friends and always loved watching curling on TV. Ben loved to ski with his family his greatest love and passion and ski until his late 70's (Hot Dog). He loved TV sports of all kind and use brylcreem up until he couldn't find it anymore lol.
His big loving smile, whimsical humor, gregarious laugh and Brylcreem will be sadly missed. There will be no memorial service due to Covid. Koden or flowers can be donate to a Charity of choice.