Also a bridge professional who won more than 200 bridge championships, he founded the first duplicate bridge club in Hilo and established the first regional bridge tournament in Hawaii. His wife Renee said he was the first bridge player on the Big Island to earn 2,500 bridge points, a feat of major significance in the bridge world.
“He’s been a very dedicated bridge player, always supported the bridge club and played bridge as often as he could and even traveled to the other side of the island to play in their bridge games,” she said.
“He continued writing,” she added. “He hadn’t published any books lately, but he was completing another ... he always kept up his interest in writing and was an avid reader.”
A football, basketball and baseball player in early years, he remained an avid sports person, she said.
His interests also included business, and he owned a construction company in Hilo as well as a papaya farm in Kapoho.
Von Elsner was born in Oak Park, Ill. He graduated with a
bachelor’s degree in psychology from Temple Bar College in Minneapolis in 1942.
Moving to Hawaii, he became a personnel administrator with the pineapple division of Libby, McNeill & Libby in 1942-43, then personnel administrator for Theo H. Davies plant division in 1944-47.
His later activities included real estate, and he lectured on real estate appraising. He was the author of 11 published novels, including detective stories, and many short stories and articles.
He also contributed to specialized publications on bridge, economics and psychology.
He is also survived by son Keynes “Sandy”; stepsons Dean K. and Glenn K. Bitle; stepdaughter Deanna Pabila; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Services will be at 5 p.m. tomorrow at Dodo Mortuary in Hilo. Call after 4 p.m. Cremation will follow services. The family requests casual attire and no flowers.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. The family requests aloha attire.
Joy, 55, of Aiea, died Saturday at home. Born in Honolulu and a Kamehameha Schools graduate, Joy was SHOPO’s business manager at the time of his death.
He is survived by wife Marion M.; sons Adam and Albert; and three grandchildren.
Douglas F. Agabin Sr., 53, of Waianae died Tuesday in Waianae. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Lorraine; son Douglas Jr.; daughters Angela, Kathleen and Katherine; brothers Ralph, Patrick and Rodney; and sisters Jean Agua, Frieda Burlson and Eleanor Herolaga. Mass: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at St. Rita’s Catholic Church, 89-786 Old Government Road in Nanakuli. Call after 6 p.m. Graveside service: 10 a.m. Wednesday at Valley of the Temples. Western/aloha attire.
Kuniji Anami, 80, of Honolulu, a retired Matson Navigation Co. merchant seaman, died Dec. 19 in Straub Hospital. Born in Wahiawa, he is survived by wife Grace S.; son Edward K.; daughter Jean M. Lewis; brother Philip K.; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Private services held.
Pui King Chan, 40, of Honolulu, vice president of Campanella & Associates Inc., died Saturday in Queen’s Hospital. Born in Hong Kong, she is survived by husband Pat Campanella; father Wing Kai Chan; mother Choy Yue Chui; brothers Tai Fan “Edward,” Tai Shung “James,” Cheong Sum “Raphael” and Tai Lam “Ambrose”; and sisters Kin Fong “Stella,” Pui Ying “Amy,” Pui Luen “Anita” and Mimi. Service: 3 p.m. Saturday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 2 p.m. Aloha attire. No flowers. Donations suggested to the Organ Donor Center of Hawaii, 1000 Bishop St., Suite 302, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.
Ralph W. Dawe Jr., 69, of Amherst, Va., formerly of Kaneohe, died Dec. 28 in Greensboro, N.C. Dawe, a U.S. Army veteran, was a retired Honolulu Police Department sergeant with several commendations. Born in Brookline, Mass., he is survived by daughters Deborah K. Hauanio and Christine K. ‘Opiopio; son Ralph W. III; sister Margie Cougle; ex-wife Irene; stepson Ed Wassman; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Memorial service: 11 a.m. tomorrow at the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery, Kaneohe. Aloha attire.
Tarius V. “T” Elisaga, 20, of Pahoa, Hawaii, a Hilo Community College student and Sears employee, died Friday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Brooklyn, he is survived by parents Tommy and Yonife; brothers Taddy, Troye and Timothy; sister Yarnell; and grandparents Helen M. Elisaga and Pedro C. Yray. Service: 10 a.m. Saturday at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Alae Cemetery. Casual attire.
Lau-Mui N. Fong, 58, of Honolulu died Dec. 29 in St. Francis Hospital. Born in China, she is survived by husband Hung-Bun; sons Kin-Chung and Kin-Hang; daughters Ka-Wan and Ka-Wai; brothers Wing-Lum, Wing-Sun and Wing-Chiu Ng; and sisters Lau-Sheung, Lau-Ling, Lau-Yuen, Siu-Mei, Siu-Ying and Siu Yuk. Taoist services: 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday at Borthwick Mortuary. Burial: Valley of the Temples.
Adelaide V. Gonsalves, 92, of Honolulu, a retired state Department of Education teacher, died Dec. 21 in the Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. Born in Laupahoehoe, Hawaii, she is survived by sister-in-law Emily “Mabel”; and several nieces and nephews. Mass: 9:15 a.m. Saturday at St. Augustine Catholic Church. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.
Lane U. Hinchcliff, 20, of Kealakehe, Kona, Hawaii, a truck driver, automotive racer and automotive reconstructor, detailer and tint technician who owned Elite Auto Care, died Saturday in the North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born in Kealakekua, Hawaii, he is survived by son Blaiae H.; parents Dale and Eda; sister Sanya; grandparents Domingo and Viola Nazara, and Larry and Esther Hinchcliff; and companion Raelynn N. Heneralau. Memorial service: noon Saturday at Calvary Community Church, 76-4295 Leilani St. (off Lako Street and Kuakini Highway 11). Call after 11:30 a.m. Refreshments to follow. Processional will leave at 3:30 p.m. for a balloon farewell at the Old Kona Airport. Casual attire. No flowers.
Evelyn K. Kahale, of Makaweli, Kauai, a retired Kalipi Cannery fruit packer, died Sunday in Wilcox Memorial Hospital. Born on Niihau, she is survived by brother James Sr.; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren. Service: 3 p.m. Saturday at the Waimea Hawaiian Church. Burial: Kekaha Hawaiian Cemetery. Casual attire.
Cleveland G.K. Kalalau, 34, of Wailuku died Monday in Maui Memorial Hospital. Born in Wailuku, he is survived by brothers Robert and Mack Kalalau, Derrick “Boy” Kanae and Kealoha Madamba; and sisters Primrose Kalalau, Roselani PoePoe, Carmen Kanae, Tina Rodrigues and Leimomi Victorino. Wake: 6 p.m. Sunday at Nakamura Mortuary. Casual attire.
Mary Ann K. Keliikupakako, 67, of Honolulu died Monday in St. Francis Hospital. Born in Paauilo, Hawaii, she is survived by sons Ezekiel, Paul and Matthew; daughter Ann Popovich; brothers Robert Garcia, and Benjamin, Martin and Pabling Feliciano; sisters Eleanor Saulo, Margaret Feliciano, Verna and Justine DeRego, Juliana Butts, Buena Giminiz, Marie Paulos and Debra-Ann Mendes; nine grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Service: 7 p.m. Friday at Kawaiahao Church. Call after 6 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.
Terue Kita, 78, of Kapaau, Hawaii, a Mauna Kea Beach Hotel retiree, died Monday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Kohala, Hawaii, she is survived by son Gary; daughters Norma Tanaka, Charlotte Kita and Arlene Nagamine; sisters Hisayo Nakamura, Takeko Ogasawara and Itsuko Yamamoto; and four grandchildren. Service: 11 a.m. Saturday at the Kohala Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Call after 10 a.m. Casual attire. No flowers.
Genie Linscott, 90, of Honolulu died yesterday in Straub Hospital. Born in Hanover, Maine, she is survived by husband the Rev. Burton; son John; daughter Elizabeth Hardaway; and four grandchildren. Memorial service: 10 a.m. Saturday at Epiphany Church, 1041 10th Ave. Aloha attire. No flowers. Donations suggested to the Epiphany Genie Memorial, 1041 10th Ave., Honolulu, Hawaii 96816.
Annie K. Louis, 69, of Pahala, Hawaii, died Monday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Honaunau, Hawaii, she is survived by husband Albert G.; sons Uresell, Calvin, Norbert, Andrew and Earl; brothers Moses, Billy, Robert, Thomas and Dean Kealamakia; sisters Hattie K. Henderson and Helen Kealamakia; and five grandchildren. Service: 10 a.m. Saturday at the Naalehu Assembly of God Church. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Naalehu County Cemetery. Casual attire.
Katherine K.I. Miyashiro, 75, of Honolulu died Dec. 27 in Hale Pulama Mau. Born in Puunene, Maui, she is survived by son Randall W.; daughters Donna K. and Ellen Y. Miyashiro, and Carla C. Chang; and five grandchildren. Memorial service: 2 p.m. Sunday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Aloha attire. No flowers.
Tamizo Murakami, 90, of Honolulu, a retired carpenter, died Dec. 31 in Kuakini Hospital. Born in Pahoa, Hawaii, he is survived by wife Saono. Memorial service: 1 p.m. tomorrow at Palolo Hongwanji Mission, 1641 Palolo Ave. Casual attire. No flowers. Incorrect information was published Tuesday.
Antonio N. Nartia, 88, of Lanai City, a retired Dole Co. heavy equipment mechanic, died Sunday in St. Francis Hospital. Born in the Philippines, he is survived by wife Carlina; son Rufino; daughters Norma and Connie; and six grandchildren. Service: 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 6 p.m. Rosary: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Filipino Clubhouse on Lanai. Call after 1 p.m. All-night vigil to follow. Mass: 11:30 a.m. Sunday at the clubhouse. Burial: Lanai Community Cemetery.
Gordon R. Ruest, 49, of Kailua, a University of Hawaii carpentry instructor, died Friday in Kailua. Born in Maine, he is survived by sisters June McKenna, Debra Lockwood and Mavis Ruest; brothers Steven and Douglas; and father Ronald. Service: 1 p.m. Sunday at 407C Kalama St.
James E. Serrano was 50 when he died Friday. Incorrect information for an obituary published Tuesday was provided by the mortuary.
Helenne H. Suzui, 81, of Kapaa, Kauai, a retired state Welfare Division secretary, died Monday in Wilcox Memorial Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by daughter Victoria Nagatori; brothers Shinji and Tom Hirai; and sisters Gene Uno and Carol Paik. Service: 3 p.m. Saturday at the Kapaa United Church of Christ. Call after 2 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.
Eliu Taimi Jr., 34, of Honolulu died Dec. 24 in St. Francis Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Katerina; sons Fiatau, Ti Eliu III and Manuele T.; daughters Catherine T.D., Tanya V., Joanna P., Rosanna M., Poutuomalotumau and Alofa L.; mother Pisa; brothers Edward P., Vesiai, Butch and Auvae; and sisters Vivian E. Tuaefe, Virginia A. and Clara Taimi, Pisa E. Tuvale, Deborah Segich and Matalena Melei. Wake: 7 p.m. tomorrow at Kaumakapili Church, 766 N. King St. Call after 6 p.m. Service: 9 a.m. Saturday at the church. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Sunset Memorial Park.