His gentle hands did most of his talking. They lovingly planted beautiful flowers, produced abundant crops and nurtured other wondrous things.

Koji Norikane brought color, expression and love to his everyday world.

He was a quiet, hard-working man – a tireless farmer, genuine friend, the oldest son of Japanese immigrants who was devoted to family, faith and service.

He loved to toil and till the soil, connect with people and, whenever possible, lend a helping hand.

A pragmatic, honorable man, his work was as golden as his few words. He led by example, believed in cooperation and was proud of the achievements. He stood committed to the cause in the many ways he served the Auburn community.

His smile lit up a room.

Throughout his long and fascinating life, Koji stayed true to his values.

“He told me, ‘You need to be honest at all times, even if it’s at your disadvantage,” said his son, Bob. “(He said) there’s a right way of doing things.”

Doing the right thing the right way will be part of his lasting legacy.

An Auburn resident for more than 80 years and one of its more remarkable citizens, Koji Norikane passed away on Sept. 7. He was 95.

Weakened by illness in his final days, Koji tried his best to persevere.

“It was tough on him, but he never complained about the pain,” Bob said. “He wanted to grow his vegetables, tend to his (backyard) garden, but couldn’t.

“He would have said that he lived too long.”

A memorial service was held last Saturday at his longtime congregational home, St. Matthew/San Mateo Episcopal Church.

Koji follows in the memory of another respected and beloved member of the local Japanese-American community. Masayasu “Sauce” Shimojima – a businessman, active volunteer, civic, education and church supporter – passed away on July 4 at age 87.

Sauce and Koji were in-laws. Mary, Koji’s surviving wife of 67 years, and Rosie, Sauce’s widow, are sisters.

“They leave a big hole,” said Susan Armer, rector of St. Matthew/San Mateo Episcopal Church. “The thing that really struck me about Koji (and Sauce), and certainly Mary and Rosie, is they are so humble, so giving and participate so well in the community with such graciousness. And that’s so important to them.”

Born and raised in Washington, Koji learned the importance of responsibility and hard work early on.

The family turned to its oldest son to bridge the language barrier, negotiate business and help maintain its Algona farm, joining the many first-generation Japanese immigrants who worked the Green River Valley fields.

They farmed here until 1942 when the U.S. government evacuated the Japanese from the West Coast and incarcerated them.

Internment failed to frustrate or deter the man and his family.

“I’m proud to live here,” Koji once said. “I love it. We don’t feel bitter about anything.”

Bob added: “He accepted the situation and did the best he could. He believed that hard work would overcome obstacles.”

Despite displacement during World War II, the family endured and found its way.

Koji and Mary married and moved about but eventually resettled in West Auburn where they maintained a farm from 1948-71. They grew primarily rhubarb, cauliflower, string beans and other choice crops.

As a “truck farmer,” Koji tirelessly planted, maintained, picked, sorted and brought the yield to market. Koji and Mary seldom, if at all, took a day off.

“They worked year round,” Bob recalled. “It wasn’t until they sold the farm that they took a vacation.”

A firm believer in farm cooperatives, Koji served as president of regional and state growers associations. He also served on the King County Farmland Preservation Selection Committee, the Auburn Parks Board, the Auburn Valley and the Seattle Metropolitan YMCA, the Auburn Rotary and the Japanese American Citizens League.

A master gardener and member of Evergreen Chrysanthemum Society, Koji grew show chrysanthemums, creating some of the most grand, cascade-shaped “mum” displays. In essence, he was the master of ‘mums.

Whenever possible, Koji volunteered with the City’s Pea Patch program.

“He had this heavy rototiller that he would load into the back of his truck and take to the Pea Patch,” said his daughter, Elaine Wetterauer. “He did this in his 70s … and we asked him why. He would say, ‘Well, I need to help the ‘older’ people.’

“He worked so hard,” Wetterauer continued. “He just loved the land.”

Blooms courtesy of Koji

Koji planted thousands of flowers at the City Hall Plaza. He would plant the tulips each fall, return in the spring to dig up the bulbs and replace them with marigolds.

“I love watching things grow,” Koji once said. “I love this city, and this is something I can contribute.”

For decades of volunteer work, he received the Citizen of the Year Award, the Hometown Hero Award, the keys to the city of Auburn and the King County Earth Hero Award.

He also was an active photographer who left behind 25-30 photo albums.

In his earlier days, Koji accumulated stories and photos that chronicled the lives of the first Japanese immigrants to the valley. The result was a photo album, complete with the details of many family stories. Koji made a wooden, stabilizing stand for his Nikon and laboriously took a photo copy of the vintage photos from the families he met for the book. Each photo had properly identified the many faces.

Today his work ethic and other qualities can be seen in his family. Koji’s values are reflected in his three fully-grown children and their families. Bob, Wetterauer and Patricia Logerwell each went on to earn their college degrees – in response and in tribute to their father’s insistence. All three are graduates of the University of Washington. All three went on to build and fulfill successful careers.

“Family and family values were very important to him,” Bob said. “My dad reminded us to be very good American kids. Our goal was to succeed as Americans.

“My dad was a good, hard-working man who focused on his family, but also the community.”

Adam Norikane learned many things from his grandfather, none more important than five values – patience, perseverance, restraint, service with honor and obligation.

“He was an incredibly patient man, patient with me,” Adam said. “He was always calm, even-handed and honest … and that is what I will always remember.”