Obituaries

Thursday, January 1, 1998

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Services to be held Monday
for Maj. Gen. Siefermann

By Lori Tighe
Star-Bulletein

He arrived on Hawaii shores as a young bomber pilot in World War II. He left Hawaii shores as a distinguished and respected major general of the U.S. Air Force.

Valentine Andrew Siefermann, 77, of Kaneohe, died on Tuesday, exactly 16 years after he retired as major general under Govs. John Burns and George Ariyoshi.

The former adjutant general of Hawaii and director of state Civil Defense also had a love of motorcycles that grew from following one of his son’s hobbies.

Siefermann became the leader of the pack to form Hawaii Motorsports Association Inc. with a membership of more than 1,000. He also cleared the way for the state’s first offroad motorcycle track in the Waialee area near Kahuku.

Described as “gung-ho,” Siefermann served as the brigadier general of the Hawaii Air National Guard. He pioneered the idea for all Air National Guard units in the nation to report to the major air command. This allowed the Air Guard units to move into action faster without the red tape of command delays.

Siefermann was born in New York. He was commissioned in the Army Air Corps in 1942, and piloted fighters and bombers in the Pacific campaign during World War II. He left active service in 1946 to be one of the first to join the Hawaii Air National Guard.

Siefermann led the state Air National Guard as its first commander. And in 1953, he earned the rank of brigadier general.

He worked with the U.S. Air Force to implement the system that enabled the Air National Guard to assume the Air Force’s role in air defense of Hawaii. His system was adopted nationally eight years later.

The Hawaii Air National Guard operated both the fighter and radar units in Hawaii’s air defense system, and still does to this day.

Siefermann’s career escalated to adjutant general of Hawaii and Director of State Civil Defense for Gov. Burns in 1973. He then was promoted to rank of major general and served under Burns and later Gov. Ariyoshi until his retirement, Dec. 30, 1981.

In addition to family and career, Siefermann became involved in a wide range of business and community activities, including president of Hui Koolau, an organization covering the area from Heeia to Kualoa.

He is survived by his wife, Pauline; sons Franklin and Dickson Smith and James, Robert and John Siefermann; daughters Valerie Way and Gail Lawrence, 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 12:45 p.m. Monday at Kailua United Methodist Church.

Visitation will be from noon. Burial will be at the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe. Call Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary for information.

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Nakayo Aburamen, 87, of Hilo died Tuesday in Hilo Hospital. She was born in Pahala, Hawaii. She is survived by brothers Rikiwo and Thomas Iida, and a grandchild. Services: 3 p.m. Sunday at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 2 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

Calvin A. “Cal” Brash, 68, of Honolulu died Friday at home. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Adeline; sons Nial Brash and David and Ron Arioli; daughters Camille Brash and Ronnele D. Calderone; mother Mae June; sister Faye McClure-Parker, and four grandchildren. Mass: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Church, 1701 Wilder Ave. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park. Casual attire. Donations suggested to the American Cancer Society or St. Francis Hospice.

Carrie K. Chang, 68, of Honolulu died Sunday in Honolulu. She was born in Kaunakakai, Molokai. She is survived by sons Alexander Jr., John, Nelton and Eric; daughters Delma DeBary, Juanita Arrant, Alria Campbell and Lori Cayetano; brother James Kealohapauole, 13 grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Memorial services: 6 p.m. Monday at First Baptist Church of Honolulu.

Stephanie L. Clancey, 56, of Honolulu died Tuesday in Honolulu. She was born on Maui. She is survived by husband Robert J.; daughters Lin Nakamura and Lani Pearson; mother Ngan Sum Loo; brother David A. Loo, and four grandchildren. Private services.

Herman A. Coelho, 81, of Kihei, Maui, a professional golfer, died Saturday in Maui Memorial Hospital. He was born in Paia, Maui. He is survived by wife Ruth E.; daughters Loni and Theresa; sister Margaret Carvalho, and brothers Victor, Adam, Raymond, Charlie and Robert. Memorial services: 5 p.m. Monday at Keawalai Congregational Church.

Howard L. Dietrich, 84, of Honolulu, retired from the Pearl Harbor Shipyard Shop 26, died Dec. 15 in St. Francis Hospital. He was born in Philadelphia. Survived by two sisters. Private services.

Pedro S. Estabillo, 63, of Waianae, a retired petty officer with the U.S. Navy, died Saturday in Aiea. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Carmen M.; sons Marvin, Artem and Ferdinand; brother Federico; sister Magdalena, and five grandchildren. Services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery.

Bridget A.L. Godfrey, 27, of Kapaau, Hawaii died Friday in North Hawaii Community Hospital. She was born in Anacortes, Wash. She is survived by husband Darren; daughters Kayla and Dylana; mother Donna Lowry; father Robert Lowry, and brothers Rob and William Lowry. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday at Gospel of Salvation Church in Hawi, Hawaii. Scattering of the ashes at a later date. Donations suggested to the American Cancer Society. Casual attire. No flowers.

Irene N. Gomes, 69, of Napili, Maui, died Monday in Maui Memorial Hospital. She was born in Honokohua, Maui. She is survived by sons Anthony, Earl, Edwin “Chico,” Greg and Neal; brothers Earl and Herman Kukahiko, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday at Waiola Church in Lahaina. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: church cemetery.

Mona “Ma-e” Hauser, 63, of San Lorenzo, Calif. will be remembered in services at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Borthwick Mortuary. No flowers. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Malia Puka O Kalani Catholic Church. Call from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Burial: 10 a.m. Monday at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2 in Hilo. Aloha attire. Information provided by the mortuary for an obituary published yesterday was incorrect.

Adeline N. Johnson, 92, of Honolulu, a retired schoolteacher, died Monday in Queen’s Hospital. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by brother Alexander “Sonny” Nobrega, and sisters Hazel Spencer and Blanche Santos. Mass: 9 a.m. Monday at Star of the Sea Church. Call after 8:30 a.m. Inurnment: Diamond Head Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.

Charlotte C. Kimi, 95, of Hilo died Sunday at home. She was born in Paia, Hawaii. She is survived by sons Anthony J. Kimi and Peter Kim; daughters Eleanor Pakele and Charlotte C. Siemann; brother Samuel Wong; sisters Esther Freitas, Margaret Shaw, Juanita Howell and Momi Lee; 10 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Wake: 7 p.m. Monday at Dodo Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 12:15 p.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Call from 11 a.m. to noon. Burial: Homelani Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Lai C. Ko, 93, of Honolulu died Dec. 6 in Queen’s Hospital. She was born in China. She is survived by son Wai T.; daughter Nin F. Lee, seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Taoist services: 9 a.m. tomorrow at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park.

Sue Y. Kong, 75, of Honolulu, a retired schoolteacher, died Nov. 28 in Honolulu. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by brothers Paul and Wing C. Private services.

Yoshikazu “Zuke” Matsui, 73, of Wailuku died Tuesday at home. He was born in Puunene, Maui. He is survived by wife Fujiko; son Lee; daughter Colleen Chang; brothers Izumi “Shine” and Herbert “Frankie”, and three grandchildren. Services: 5 p.m. tomorrow at Wailuku Hongwanji Mission. Casual attire. No flowers.

Manuel F. “Red” Neves, 85, of Boise, Idaho, died Dec. 10 in Boise. He was born in Kilauea, Kauai. He is survived by sons Manuel F. Jr., Stephen G., William P., Richard D., Francis F., Bede B., Gerard L., Dennis L., Anthony B., Louis X. and Paul K.; daughters Monica C. Long, Anne G. Manuia, Mary K. Manoa and Celine R. Figeroa; brothers Jimmy, Herbert, Ralph, Bobby, David and August; sisters Jane Gomes and Gladys Akana; 60 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild. Mass: 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, at Malia Puka O Kalani Catholic Church. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Homelani Memorial Park. Aloha attire.

Kurato Ogawa, 95, of Waialua, a retired fish cutter, died Monday in Wahiawa General Hospital. He was born in Hiroshima, Japan. He is survived by sons Richard, Dr. Robert and Francis; daughter Helen Kimura; brother Ben; sisters Asayo Date and Marian Kuraoka, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Services: 3 p.m. Sunday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call after 2 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

Florence M. Okada, 83, of Pauoa Valley, a retired office clerk for Love’s Bakery, died Dec. 24 in Hale Nani Rehabilitation Hospital. She was born in Puunene, Maui. She is survived by husband James J. and son Stanley M. Private services.

Allan T. Osaki, 92, of Honolulu, a retired meat cutter, died Dec. 21 in Kuakini Hospital. He was born in Hiroshima, Japan. He is survived by wife Evelyn M.; sons George M. and Allan I.; daughters Karen C. Ushijima and Cynthia Y. Fujinaka; brother Satoru Osaki; sister Dorothy Sumimoto, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Private services.

Mabel Peterson, 56, of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, owner of Affordable Hearing Aids, died Dec. 23 in Kona Community Hospital. She was also past president and district director of Soroptomist International. She was born in Spanish Fork, Utah. She is survived by husband Richard M.; sons Richard S. and Rodney T.; daughter Barbara Goodwin; mother Beth Newitt; sisters Clea Headman, Cherie Roylance and Becky Wilson; brother Jerry Newitt, and six grandchildren. Services: 3 p.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Kalani Street in Kailua-Kona. Call after 2 p.m. Casual/aloha attire.

J. Patricia M. Swenson, 76, of Honolulu died Dec. 24 in Honolulu. She is survived by daughters Karen McCollom, Dana Seberg and Hilary Moody; brothers Francis and Richard Morgan, and seven grandchildren. Graveside services: 11 a.m. Saturday at Oahu Cemetery. Aloha attire. Donations suggested to Daughters of Hawaii. Call Ultimate Cremation Services of Hawaii for information.

Torao Takatsuka, 76, of Wahiawa died Friday in Wahiawa General Hospital. He was born in Kihei, Maui. He is survived by wife Shigeko; son Lester; daughter Carol M. Yeager; brothers Robert, Susumu, Osamu, Akira and George; sister Harue Matsui, and a grandson. Private services.

Taeko Tashiro, 83, of Kaneohe and formerly of Honokaa, Hawaii, died Sunday in Kaiser Hospital. She was born in Paauhau, Hawaii. She is survived by sons Gary T. and Dennis H.; daughters Helen E. Yamasaki, Florence M. Wasai, Katherine K. Hamai and Ruby C. Nagao; brother Wallace T. Nakagawa; sisters Amy M. Kimura and Elsie Y. Uemura, 11 grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Memorial services: 2 p.m. Sunday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.