Obituaries

Tuesday, March 9, 1999

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Ex-councilman,
442 vet ‘Sandy’ Holck
dies at 73

Wilbert 'Sandy' Holck
served in both World War II and
the Korean War

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Wilbert “Sandy” Holck, a member of World War II's 442nd Regimental Combat Team and former city councilman, died Saturday in Tucson, Ariz., his home for the past several years.

He was 73.

Holck, born in Honolulu, enlisted in the 442nd in March 1943, and fought with the unit through Italy and Southern France, suffering a combat wound.

In 1950-51, he served in the Korean War as an operations sergeant with the 24th Infantry Division.

He retired as a master sergeant in 1963.

Before his military retirement, while based in Europe in 1961, he arranged for a sister city relationship between Honolulu and Bruyeres, France, a city the 442nd liberated.

In later years, he helped to arrange and host many exchange visits between veterans and people of Bruyeres.

In October 1994, the French people hosted a reception for 442nd veterans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Bruyeres liberation.

About 700 veterans and family and friends attended from throughout the United States.

The liberation involved 442nd troops being exposed to freezing and wet weather in October and November 1944, when the 442nd experienced nearly 2,000 casualties in liberating the town and the region, also in rescuing the “Lost Battalion” of Texans of the 36th Infantry Division. The 442nd staged the U.S. Army's only “banzai” charge to bring about that costly rescue.

Following retirement from the Army, Holck served eight years as the deputy city clerk.

He was elected to the City Council in 1974, representing Windward Oahu until 1978. Thereafter appointed to various other government positions, he eventually retired from government service in 1987.

He is survived by wife Merle and her children Dason, Shelley and Reina; his daughters Sandra Souza, Susan Harada, Mary Ann Nemoto and Cherie Holck; sons Wilbert, Danna, Willard, Joseph and Oscar Jacob; and 11 grandchildren. Other survivors are brothers Joseph, Frederick and Roy; and sister Yolanda Silva.

Services: 12:15 p.m. Monday at Hawaiian Memorial Park, 45-425 Kamehameha Highway, Kaneohe.

Dorothy E. Beerman, 82, of Honolulu, retired from the U.S. government, died March 2 in Honolulu. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by sister Pauline A. Graveside services: 10 a.m. Thursday at Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.

Rachel R. Bradford, 84, of Honolulu, retired from JC Penney, died Feb. 26. She was born in Freeport, Ill. She is survived by brothers Scott and Charles Allen; sons James, Thomas and Robert Morris; 14 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Services: 9:15 a.m. tomorrow at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 8 a.m. Private scattering of ashes. No flowers. Donations suggested to St. Francis Hospice or American Cancer Society.

Rosita De Peralta, 86, of Waipahu died Wednesday in St. Francis Hospital. She was born in Kukaiau, Hilo. She is survived by daughter Adelaida Morales; brothers Valentio De Peralta and Anastacio Lamorena; sisters Flaviana Maghulos, Felisa Subillaga and Anastacia Valdez; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Rosary: 7 p.m. tomorrow at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 9:45 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Church in Waipahu. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Antonio Gualderama, 84, of Pearl City died Wednesday in Kaiser Hospital. He was born in Puerto Rico. He is survived by wife Victoria; sons Antonio, Alfred, Thomas, William and Henry; daughter Lolita; stepson William Morales; brother Lawrence; sisters Julia Santana and Jean Belen; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great- grandchildren. Services: 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Sunset Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Mele V. Heimuli, 60, of Waipahu died March 2 in St. Francis-West Hospice. She was born in Tonga. She is survived by husband Sunia T.; sons Halafuka and Mosese Heimuli and Netaleni Vea; daughters Mafi Vea, Akosita Moala, Kuleisi Naufahu and Molimau Darcier; brothers Semisi, Maika, Tiumalu, Viliami and Manaia Vea; sisters Anaseini Okovea, Sameloki Uitalia, Seini Vete, Anahavea Sikalu and Kafoatu Toafa; and 27 grandchildren. Wake services: 5 p.m. Thursday at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 94-210 Kahualii St. Call 4:30 to 10 p.m. Services: 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples. Casual attire.

Shigeyo Kimura, 90, of Wahiawa, a retired cook from Wahiawa General Hospital, died Wednesday in Wahiawa General Hospital. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by sons Noboru and George M.; daughter Barbara K. Matsumoto; sister Masano Inouye; 10 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Services: 7 tonight at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call after 6:30 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

Jiro Kono, 76, of Wailuku, a retired supervisor from Maui Land and Pineapple Co., died Saturday at home. He was born in Japan. He is survived by wife Harue; sons Ronald, Leslie and Leighton; brother Ichiro; sister Dorothy Tagawa; four grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. Services: 5 p.m. tomorrow at Wailuku Hongwanji Mission. Inurnment: 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Maui Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.

Rachel K.W.M. “Nana” Luka, 78, of Aiea, a University of Hawaii Extension instructor, died Feb. 26 in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi. She was also a former Democratic Party ward leader of Aiea/Halawa District. She was born in Hilo. She is survived by children Alexander M., Alvin P. and Morrison K. Luka and Jerrellyn L. Yamada; sister Frances Peterson; brother Englebert Kamahele; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Services: 11 a.m. Thursday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call after 10 a.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Aloha attire. No flowers.

Katsumi “Kats” Mashita, 78, of Kailua, a retired farmer, died Friday. He was born in Kohala, Hawaii. He is survived by wife Mabel; sons Lloyd and Eric; daughter Caroline Wiedey; brothers Hikaru “Hank” and Stanley; sisters Katherine Tomita, Gladys Yasuda and Grace Mashita; and five grandchildren. Services: 11 a.m. Thursday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Casual attire.

Harriet T. McKinley, 95, of Honolulu, a retired manager of the rental department at Hawaiian Trust Co., died Friday in St. Francis-West Hospice. She was born in Wilmont, Minn. Mass: 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Star of the Sea Catholic Church. Inurnment: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. No flowers. Donations suggested to St. Francis-West Hospice.

Tamotsu Nosaka, 92, of Hilo and formerly of Onomea, Hawaii, a retired laborer for the former Mauna Kea Sugar Co., died Saturday in Life Care Center of Hilo. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Toshiko; sons Harold and Herbert; daughters Ellen Kobayashi and Mildred Nakamoto; 14 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. Services: 5 p.m. Thursday at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 4 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

Charles A. Petrie, 35, of Honolulu, owner of a janitorial services, died Sunday in Honolulu. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Lisa; mother Margaret; sisters Mary K. Carvalho and Karen Petrie; and brothers Wesley and Harold Jr. Graveside services: 11 a.m. Thursday at Oahu Cemetery. Aloha attire. No flowers.

Shigeyuki Shinsato, 68, of Waipahu, retired from Holmes & Narver on Johnson Island, died Feb. 22 in St. Francis-West Hospital. He was born in Waipahu. He is survived by wife Lisa T.; daughter Emily Y.; brothers Kenjin, Nanao “Joe” and George Y.; and sisters Phyllis Y. and Eleanor T. Handa and Charlotte M. Uyeda. Services: 6 p.m. Thursday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Casual attire. No flowers.

Wilfred S. Sylva, 69, of Kaaawa, a retired enlisted man for the U.S. Army, died Saturday in Kaaawa. He was born in Maui. He is survived by daughter Diana “Sue” Awa; son Robert; sisters Vangie Golden, Carmen Souza, Claire Vega, Germaine Tavares and Janet Pak-Chong; brother Larry and Ronnie; and six grandchildren. Services: 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 12:30 p.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Aloha attire.

Mother Mary Agnes J. Tse, 91, of Kaneohe, mother foundress of the Carmelite Monastery of the Holy Trinity in Hawaii, died Sunday. She was also mother prioress of the Carmelite Monastery in Hawaii. She was born in Hong Kong. She is survived by sisters Kathleen Cheung and Ann Wong. Call from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow at the monastery.

Philip Yee Lin Young, 74, of Honolulu, a retired accountant, died Wednesday. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Debra; brothers Dr. Edwin, Kulven, Albert, Errol and Henry; and sister Barbara Yim. Services: Noon Thursday at Diamond Head Memorial Park. Call after 11 a.m. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park.