Rodney V. Kazuro Shimizu
RODNEY V. KAZURO SHIMIZU
Jan 19, 1952 – April 7, 2010
Rod Shimizu passed away peacefully at the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice Home with his wife and daughter at his side.
Rod is survived by his wife Hennie, his daughter Sandie and his grandchildren Danica and Cameron.
Rod is also survived by his sister Julie (Ted), nieces Andrea and Caroline; brothers George (Sets) and John. He is also survived by his inlaws, dear mother in law Renee (John), brother in law Peter (Lisa), nieces Jen, Catherine and Amanda; sister in law Marianne (Brian), nieces Jill and Brittney.
Rod was predeceased by his parents Torao and Masaye Shimizu.
Rod moved to Kamloops with his wife in 1993 and fell instantly in love with its beauty. Rod was an avid Blazers fan, season ticket holder since 1994 and a Blazer Booster Club member. Rod became part of the Kamloops Senior Hockey due to much encouragement from his long time dear friend Norio Sakaki. They also would fish together where Rod never ever caught a fish! They played Seniors Slo-pitch in spring/summer and the Salmon Arm Hockey Tournament in August.
Many thanks to the staff of 6 South at Royal Inland Hospital and enormous “thank yous” to all of the staff of Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice Home.
A Celebration of Rod’s life will be held on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. in the Schoening Funeral Chapel, 513 Seymour Street.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Kamloops Hospice Association, 72 Whiteshield Crescent S., Kamloops, BC V2E 2S9 in memory of Rod would be appreciated.
Hennie,
Please accept our deepest condolences on Rod’s passing. Both you and Rod have been wonderful friends to my parents, and I know they will both miss Rod very, very much. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Regards,
Rich & Lesley Sakaki
Dear Hennie,
Our heartfelt condolences to you and your family. Rod was a great friend, with a great sense of humour. We will miss him dearly. Take good care Hennie. We are here for you.
Joe, Laurie and Taryn
Dear Hennie,
Both Eunice & I often think about Rod. He was such a nice person and our favourite Car Salesperson. I often stopped in to have coffee with Rod and enjoyed our conversations. When we moved to Victoria, we drove back to Kamloops to deal with Rod because he was such an honest guy. Our deepest condolences.
Guy & Eunice Fangeat
Hennie;
My sincere condolences to you and your family at the passing of Rod. My heart goes out to you all at this time of grief. Rod was a good hockey buddy and I truly enjoyed the times we had on the ice and especially the dressing room. His humour was absolutely contagious. I will miss his outrageous laughter and the vision of him speeding down the ice with only one hand on the stick. You were blessed.
Bill Farley
Our codolences go out to Hennie and her Family,Rod was a wonderful man we had many good laughs and fun times as we were season ticket holders in the same section for fifteen years,it will not be the same without him,he will be sadly missed.
Your loving Friends June and Merle
Dear Hen,Sandie & Family
I am so sorry for your loss.
Rod was a cheerful, funny guy. I especially remember the stories from my dad and sister Muriel regarding his exuberance when it came to hockey and how it was a good thing that he sat in a hockey section with a plexiglass barrier…I think that must have been more for the “REF’S” protection more than the fans:-) He certainly loved his hockey. I will miss that smiling face but know we will see each other again on that next great journey!!!!!
Blessings & Love
Tammy, Bob & Chase
Dear Hennie & Family
We are so sorry for your loss. We pray for you and your loved ones.
Eileen & Fred Boelke
“It is with shock and sadness we learn of Rod’s passing. THE GOOD DIE YOUNG ! We have had the honor of knowing him since his arrival in Kamloops….and he has helped us with the purchases of our last three vehicles. Obviously, we went back to him because of his professionalism, courtesy, and human approach. He was a “class act” (even at the end with his mailout to all his customers thanking them for their business)…I wished I had grasped the severity of his health problem….but am grateful for our last “heart to heart” talk. To Hennie and family I offer our deepest sympathies….but take comfort in knowing he was a well-respected and honorable guy !…..Grant & Terry Ford
Rod will surely be missed. Everyone in heaven will be driving subaru’s .
Rod and I worked together for several years at wheaton pontiac in New Westminster. Rod and I had many great times together, with his super sence of humor. Rod you are loved and will be missed! Hennie we are so sorry for your loss!
Dennis & Carol
Hello Hennie and family,
I am so sorry to know that Rod have passed away. He was a honest ,respectable and fun person. Please take good care for yourself.
Ben and E Man Yeung
Julie and George
Although I only knew your brother for a short time, you can be proud of the fact that he was a credit to your family.
Hennie & Family, Our sincere condolences to your family on your loss. We will miss Rod and his smiles. Am very glad I got to visit him in hospital, and will miss our coffee time together.Our prayers are with you & your family.
Dave & Sharon
I knew Rod as a car salesman (3 cars) and as a client in the dental office where I work (Dr Glenn Vandepeears). We will miss his smiling face. He was a class act. I am glad I knew him. Always honest and friendly.
Brenda Sherwood
Although I only new Rod personally for just over a year his reputation was know throughout our community as an honourable and extremely knowledgable sales profesional. It was a gift to be able to get to know Rod on a personal level and to see him everyday live up to and exceed the reputation he worked so hard for. He always found a way to make us laugh and smile. Rod you will be missed and your impact on all of our lives will continue to grow even in your passing.
We are so sorry to hear about Rod. It came about so quickly and we are all still in shock! The only thing this shows us is “Life Is Short” so remember all the good times and get on with embracing what we all have left! I hope you have many wonderful memories of him as he was a wonderful man. Our thoughts are with you Nancy and Gerry
Hennie:
Jennie and I were greatly saddened by the recent passing of Rod. Rod was one of my best friends in Kamloops and I will forever miss his great sense of humor, his antics off and on the ice during our Senior hockey tournaments, and his amazing inability to catch fish. Our hearts are with you during this difficult time and we are sorry we could not be there to help provide some comfort. Our thoughts are with you and the two famimies.
Hennie & Sandie; I am so glad that I stopped by to see you. Thank you for telling me of Rod’s passing.
I have read the condolences left by your many friends and acquaintances. Rod will be remembered by all and missed.
Life is eternal, and love is immortal, and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight. Hugs
Kim.
Dear Hennie;
We met a few times during our January hockey tourments, but I you may not recognize my name.
I was sorry to hear of Rodney’s passing. I met your husband when he first came out to our Seniors hockey at the Ice Box arena.
Those first years, Rodney had his share of troubles but he never quit, and in time the results began to show. Of all the newcomers we had back in those days, I say this in all honesty, Rodney had my vote for the most improved player. Rodney’s best qualities were just being an all around nice guy, kind words and a big smile always followed him. He will be missed.
I will not be able to attend the Celebration of Rodney’s life as I will be in Seattle. My thoughts will be with you.
My deepest condolences go out to you and your family.
Sincerely,
RAY VANDETTE
Henne & Family:
I am very sad to hear that we lost Rod. Since I am so far away I truely won’t feel the full impact of this loss until the next time I’m up there again. Every time I first arrived and entered the dressing room for our first hockey game I looked forward to seeing his smiling face. He was always so eager to play and obviously enjoyed hockey so much. He will really be missed. Love Al Raymond
Hennie,
It was a terrible shock to learn about Rod. Our thoughts are with you.
Ken & Elna
To Rod’s Family:
I am saddened to hear of Rod’s passing. He was a very genuine person. An “up” person. He was very helpful and knowledgeable on the purchase of my Subaru. His smiling face will surely be missed at the dealership.
Betty O’Brien
Hennie & Sandie:
It has been our pleasure to not only have had Rod as a good friend but also as a great neighbour.When we moved to Kamloops in 2004 Rod was the first neighbour I met.I was setting up the garage and he noticed I played hockey I said I did and was wondering if he knew where I could play in the coming winter.He smiled and said come and play with us this Sunday.The date was the 1st or 2nd of July I had to laugh but started playing that Sunday.Rod was a first class act and will be sorely missed by everyone that new him.Rest in peace.
To Hennie, Sandie and family, Heather and I offer you our deepest sympathy on the loss of Rod. No amount of condolences can take away the pain of losing at loved one, and all of us who knew Rod are mourning his passing.
Rod was an inspiration to me, and he rejuvenated my enjoyment of playing senior hockey. Many times while having my Forrester serviced, I would pop up to the showroom floor and pass some time talking to Rod; He would tell me all about his last game, and his face would light up, for every game for “Rocket Rod” was the 7th game of the Stanley Cup Finals, and I realized that he had the right perspective, he started playing hockey late in life, but that didn’t matter, he gave it his best, and he enjoyed it the most, and I caught some of his excitement. I’m sure that Rod is speeding down his wing right now, and I hope that when my time comes, I’m good enough to make his line…..Dave Costain
Dear Hennie and Sandie
Our hearts are with you in this time of grief. Rod left us far too soon, we will miss his quick laugh, wonderful sense of humour and warm smile.
The girls remember fondness the juggling and origami cranes he would make to amuse them and make them laugh at family get-togethers. Its the little things in life that count and Rod had the gift of making those moments seem larger then life.
Rod is and will always be an inspiration to us all, we will miss him dearly and remember him fondly….Peter & Lisa
So sorry to hear about Rod. What an awesome guy and pro salesman! I first delt with Rod in 1987, in New Westminster, when I bought a truck from him. When I found out he was selling cars at Zimmer, I went and bought a Suzuki from him. He’s the ONLY car salesman I could ever trust, as he was such an honest person. I will miss him. My heart goes out to the family.
Hennie and Family,
Our sincere condolences to you and your family. Rod was such a genuine person and I so enjoyed my time working with him. Rod always had a smile on his face and it was a pleasure to be in his company. He will be dearly missed!
Dan & Shelly
Hennie:
Deepest condolences on the loss of Rod.
A real sportsman with lots of enthusiasm.
Will miss his smile and “Rod Giggle”.
Thinking of you in this time of loss.
Eric & Maggie
Hennie,
My deepest sympathy to you and your family. I am so sorry I will not be able to be there today for Rod’s celebration of life. I will try to get to Kamloops as soon as possible and I will make sure we stop by your house. Rod had many many friends but always made room for more. What always stood out the most about Rod for me was the amount of friends he had and how they always seemed to keep in touch no matter how busy they were. Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. I am so glad I was able to talk to Rod at the end of March and thank you Hennie for calling me here in Fort St. John. Dhillon was so sad to hear Rod passed so quickly he was drawing him another picture. Dhillon said its ok though cause Rod is having fun playing hockey with the big guys in heaven.
To Hennie, Norio Sakaki, Julie & Ted our thoughts are with you.
We are still in shock at the passing of Rod. It is still hard to believe. We will always remember him with a smile on his face. I hope you will find comfort in the many great happy years you had together, and that he was well loved by friends and family. Take care of yourself Hennie.
Wes and Linda
Dear Hennie:
We hope that all your wonderful memories will help you through at this time. We’ll miss Rod’s cheerful grin and helpful ways.
Marika & Bruce Tasaka