Obituary

TANAKATSUBO, FRED SATSUKI (SATS)
Fred Satsuki (Sats) Tanakatsubo, 96 years, passed away peacefully on May 19th, 2016.

Beloved husband of Betty Tanakatsubo, married 68-years. Loving father of Niles (Myriam), Dr. Ramsey (Delight) and Stewart (Roberta) Tanakatsubo, grandfather of Heidi, Guy, Kristen, Brian, Robert, Corri, Ciarra, Tad, and Ennio, great-grandfather of Graeson, Emma, Riley, Korbin and Avery. Devoted brother of Robert (late Miyo) and Dr. Richard (Edith), late Shizuo (Nancy), and late Noburo Tanaka.

Born in Sacramento, California on April 26, 1920, Sats spent his childhood and adolescent years there and enlisted in the U.S. Army prior to WWII. After the war started, he volunteered for the Army's Military Language School where he learned formal Japanese language and writing skills. He served with the Army's Military Intelligence Service in the Pacific front from Attu and Kiska in Alaska, down to the South Pacific including the Philippines. After his WWII service, Sats relocated to Cleveland, Ohio where he met and married his beloved wife of 68 years, Betty. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Chicago to look for work and to start their family.

While raising their three sons, Sats often worked two jobs. He put his boys through college and paid all of their educational expenses. In spite of his exhausting work schedule, Sats still found time to be very involved with the Japanese-American youth and community organizations. He was a Cub scout Assistant Cub master , General manager of the Nisei Ambassador Drum and Bugle Corp, past Commander of American Legion Post 1183, member of VFW Post 7181, and past and current Vice-president of the Japanese Mutual Aid Society of Chicago. Sats was also a renowned grill master who organized and helped at many teriyaki chicken fund raising events for various different organizations in the Japanese-American community.

In his spare time, Sats played tennis, golfed, and loved dancing with his beloved wife, Betty. They were so graceful on the dance floor that their family and friends called them "Fred and Ginger". They travelled extensively in retirement throughout the U.S., Japan, China, and cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean, and Panama Canal.
Sats will always be remembered for his lifetime example of hard work and unselfish dedication to his family, community, and country. A life well lived!

There will be a memorial visitation on Saturday, June 11, 2016 from 11:00 a.m. until the Memorial Service at 1:00 p.m. . At: Lakeview Funeral Home 1458 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL. 60657 773-472-6300