Lawson Iichiro Sakai
Obituary
Lawson Iichiro Sakai, born October 27, 1923 , resident of Morgan Hill, California passed away
peacefully on June 16, 2020. Lawson was born and raised in Montebello, California, moved to
Colorado for a short time during WWII before enlisting in the army. He served in the 442nd
Regimental Combat Team, a segregated unit for Japanese Americans, and earned a Bronze
Star, a Purple Heart and a Combat Infantryman Badge for his service during the campaigns in
Italy and France. He married Mineko Hirasaki of Gilroy, California on April 8, 1946.
Lawson and Mineko opened their own travel business which they ran until retiring in 1990.
Lawson founded the Friends and Family of Nisei Veterans, a non-profit dedicated to preserving
the legacy of Japanese American veterans. He was active as a leader of the organization,
participating in many reunions and tours to Italy and France as recently as 2019.
He is survived by his children Kenneth (Lynda) Sakai, Joanne Sakai (Dallas Foster), Janet
(Noriaki) Ito, and Dennis Sakai (Linda Durrin), grandchildren, Kelly (Francesca) Sakai, Nicholas
Sakai, Mika Ito (Byron Yamada), Gaku Ito (Aya Ino), Kisa Ito (Erik Fujinami), Stephen Sakai,
Kimberlee Sakai (Morad Alvarez), great-granddaughter Mie Yamada, and many other relatives.
He is predeceased by his wife Mineko Hirasaki Sakai and by sisters Misako (Perry) Sumida and
Mieko Sakai.
Private funeral services were held on June 27, 2020 at Gavilan Hills Memorial Park in Gilroy,
California. Pending COVID19 restrictions, a memorial service will be scheduled later this year.
For online condolences visit www.habingfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Published in Gilroy Dispatch · July 2, 2020