Amy Emiko (Sato) Kinoshita passed peacefully on June 1, 2025, in Seattle, Washington, at the age of 93.
She was born in Seattle and grew up on the family strawberry farm in Chehalis, Washington. During World War II, she and her family were incarcerated at the Tule Lake, California, War Relocation Center. Amy’s mother died at Tule Lake in 1943. The family was later transferred to the Minidoka, Idaho, War Relocation Center and returned to Chehalis after the war.
As Amy resettled in Chehalis, she helped with the farm and care of her siblings. In high school, Amy was active in many extracurriculars, including band, chorus, drama, majorette, yell queen, student council, publications and girls’ athletics. Amy graduated from Adna High School in 1949. Afterward, Amy began a rewarding 37-year career with Fireman’s Fund, retiring in 1993.
Amy married her loving husband, Charles C. Kinoshita, in 1956 in Seattle. They enjoyed traveling domestically and internationally, taking part in the Boating Season Opening Day through the Montlake Cut with co-workers for many years, and entertaining family and friends. Amy was a wonderful cook and baker, known for her delicious maki-sushi and other traditional Japanese dishes, and her 4-H Washington State first prize-winning cherry pie. She also enjoyed mushroom hunting and razor clam digging with the family. On their 25th wedding anniversary, her nieces and nephews sang a song that exclaimed: “Sushi, pies and good obentos, we’ll take Amy wherever we go!”
Forty-four years after high school, Amy surprised her nieces, nephews and their children with an impromptu baton-twirling performance at the Kinoshita family reunion. She also enjoyed video poker—with her favorite machine at the Muckleshoot Casino—and recreational poker with loved ones. Her “tell” was a giveaway: a big smile when she had a good poker hand!
Amy is survived by her sister, Irene Sato (Ray) Yamasaki; sisters-in-law, Janice (Eddie) Sato and Reiko (John) Sato; and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, and great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles; parents, Tomoichi and Hanako (Ohi) Sato; brothers, Edward (Eddie) and John; and sisters, Toshiko (George) Tambara and Jane (Janie) Sato.
Funeral services will be held in the fall. Memorials may be sent to Providence Mount St. Vincent Foundation; St. Francis of Assisi (Burien); Densho (Seattle); or a charity of your choice.
