Kenji “Ken” Akiyama

Kenji “Ken” Akiyama
1930-2022
Kenji “Ken” Akiyama passed away peacefully in the arms of his family on July 3,2022. He was born April 15, 1930 in Pocatello, ID, the first son and second child to Takuji and Toyono Akiyama, who eventually had seven children.
Ken grew up working on farms sharecropped in the area of Pocatello, Idaho. His responsibilities as the first son were immense. Kenji taught his younger siblings how to drive. He helped plant, harvest, and tend to acres of beets, potatoes, alfalfa, and grain. He took his younger siblings to school and protected them. After Ken’s father had a stroke, Ken stepped up. These were some of his first lessons in how difficult it is to raise a family.
After Pearl Harbor, Ken and his family visited interned Japanese at Minidoka (Eden, Idaho), giving them tomatoes and produce from the farm. Ken was drafted into the Marines at the start of the Korean War and became a plane mechanic. Ken endured racial discrimination throughout his young life, which only made him work harder. When Ken realized farming would not be lucrative, he applied for work at Mountain Bell, where a supervisor saw his potential as a draftsman, after seeing Ken’s immaculate print and handwriting. Ken went on to work at Mtn. Bell for over thirty years as an architect, a building contractor, and an inspector.
Ken met Claramae Roberts working at Mtn. Bell, and they were married in June of 1966. They adopted two sons, Kelsie and Kellen, and later had two biological sons, Kirby and Kris. “A baseball team…” Ken was generous to a fault, kind, funny, forgiving, steadfast, hard-working, and smart. Above all, he was a loving father and grandfather.
Kenji is preceded in death by his parents, Takuji Akiyama and Toyono Fukumato, as well as his siblings, Chieko and Mikiko. Ken is survived by his wife, Claramae Roberts, and his four sons—Kelsie (and wife: Kim, along with their son, Kenji James), Kellen (and wife: Eva, along with son, Owen and daughter, Lela), Kirby (and wife: Natalie, along with son, Hayden, his wife, Kayla, and their son, Dominic), and Kris- (and wife: Tanja, along with their children: daughter Alexis, her husband, Cameron, and son, Levi, daughters Ivy Mae and Vienna. Also, daughter Katja, her husband, Corey. Also, son, Isaac). Ken is also survived by his siblings: Kai Akiyama, Joe Akiyama, Shoji Akiyama, and Keyko Akiyama and their sons, daughters, and grandchildren, as well as those of Chieko Mayeda and Mikiko Harada.
Everything Ken worked for, everything he did, became the foundations of our lives. His actions often spoke louder than words. His influence transcended measurement. Words and numbers do not encompass his enormous, life-long, undisputed, and often intangible effect on the many people he knew and loved. He will be greatly missed.
Funeral details are handled by Redwood Memorial Estates (6500 S. Redwood Rd.) In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice.
Service Information
Viewing July 8, 2022 at 6:30 PM
Memorial Redwood Viewing Room





Viewing July 9, 2022 at 01:00 PM
Memorial Redwood Viewing Room





Funeral Service
July 9, 2022 at 02:00 PM
Memorial Redwood Chapel