Shige Shimada 1920-2009My dear friend and neighbor, Shige Shimada passed away last month. I will miss him greatly. I have known him my entire life. He was my next door neighbor for over 17 years. There are very few men in the world as good as Shige. Shige and his wife June (Misuko) were like my second grandparents.
My brother, sister and I would spend countless hours over at their house roller skating and just hanging out. Shige had a big detached garage in the back of his property, complete with a Country Time Lemonade pop machine. I have many good memories of sitting in the shade with Shige and June and drinking lemonade. Each year, Shane, Courtney, & Spencer Shimada, three of Shige and June's grandkids would come and stay with them for the summer. We formed great friendships with them and had terrific summer adventures.
I've never met two people that could work like Shige and June. I can still see Shige out observing his rows and rows of produce in the garden to ensure not a single weed flourished. This is NOT an exaggeration. The Shimada's were known for weedless fields and gardens.
I learned so many things about the Japanese culture that I will be forever grateful for. Each year we would attend the OBON Festival at their Buddhist Temple in Ogden, and we looked forward to it each year. When I was in elementary school, I did a report on Japan and June and Shige gave me wonderful items to display for my project.
I can never look at an eggplant and not think of Shige. I can never think of Shige and not smile. His personality was infectious.
Shige had been suffering from Alzheimer's Disease for the past 10 years. He and June moved to Salt Lake City a few years after we moved from the neighborhood to be closer to their youngest son.
Greg, my mom and I were able to attend Shige's funeral. As I went up to June and gave her a big hug, tears filled my eyes. It seemed so sad to me that Shige was no longer here on this earth to be beside his beloved wife, Misuko.
I'll miss you Shige.
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