Obituary of Kenje Ogata

DR. KENJE OGATA STERLING- Dr. Kenje Ogata, 92, died Wednesday January 18, 2012 at CGH Medical Center. He was a dentist in the Sterling-Rock Falls area for 42 years, prior to retirement. Kenje was born June 1, 1919 in Gary, IN, the son of Clay Kamezo and Wai (Mitsuda) Ogata. He served in the United States Army and Army Air Corps as a B24 ball turret gunner and was shot down twice over Europe. In 1941 he met Wilma Arlene Reiff; they married on March 5, 1943. In 1953, Kenje graduated from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry. After a year's fellowship at the Strong-Carter Dental Clinic in Honolulu, he returned to Sterling, where he practiced dentistry until 1996. Kenje was affiliated with the CGH Medical Center from 1960-1994, and served on the Whiteside County Board of Health. He volunteered at CGH and with Lutheran Brotherhood, and belonged to St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was a member of the American Legion, the VFW and the Sterling Moose, as well as a number of professional organizations. Kenje loved music, art, nature, humor, people, his friends, family and his work. In his later years he enjoyed sketching Mickey Mouse, especially for small children. Memorial Services will be held at 11 AM Monday, January 23, 2012 at the Schilling Funeral Home, Sterling, with the Reverend Mark Oehlert, pastor, of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, officiating. Cremation rites have been accorded. Visitation will be held from 9-10:45AM, prior to services at the funeral home. A gathering of family and friends will take place at St. John's after the service. Survivors include his wife, Wilma, of Sterling; one daughter, Kenjalin Ogata of Somerville, MA; two nieces, Carole Ogata (Wally) King of Anna and Jayne (Matt Bernstein) Ogata of Milton, MA; a nephew, K.C. (Priscilla) Ogata of Livingstone; and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Kent M. Ogata. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to memorials established for Hospice of the Rock River Valley, St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church and Sterling Schools Foundation