Fred Tsunezo Yonemoto Passed away April 5, 2008 in Sunnyvale at the age of 95. Born in Colma in 1912, he was sent to live with his grandparents in Wakayama, Japan after his motherﾕs death. He attended grammar school and high school both in Japan and Sunnyvale, where he graduated from Fremont High School in 1933. Soon he began working full-time at the family carnation nursery, Yonemoto Nurseries in Sunnyvale (founded in the 1920s).

Just before wartime relocation, Fred married his sweetheart, Yukiko Udo of San Francisco. His family was interned at Heart Mountain, Wyo., where he taught classes in English for the older generation. After the war, he returned to the nursery until his retirement in 1974.

Fred was a co-founder of Mountain View Buddhist Temple. He helped lead a fund-raising campaign that resulted in the purchase of the current site in 1954 and was the president of the temple for four years. He was a teacher of shigin (classical singing) with Mountain View Kinyukai. He was also active in the Japanese Speaking Society and the Sunnyvale Rotary Club. He was an avid golfer, gardener, and fisherman. His generous, gentle spirit was admired by all.

Fred's wife, Yukiko, passed away in 2001. He is survived by his children, Kazuyo (Harold Wright), Katherine Sachiko, Fred Kiyoshi, David (Annette), Arthur (Lynda), and Leslie (Holly), and five grandsons, Kenji, Michael, Matthew, Grant and Tyler.

A memorial service sponsored by the Mountain View Buddhist Temple will be held on Saturday, April 19, at 1 p.m. at the temple, 575 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View. Guest book at www.cusimanocolonial.com.