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STERLING – Dr. Kenje Ogata, 92, of Sterling, died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, at CGH Medical Center in Sterling. He was a dentist in the Sterling-Rock Falls area for 42 years before retiring.
Kenje was born June 1, 1919, in Gary, Ind., the son of Clay Kamezo and Wai (Mitsuda) Ogata. He served in the Army and Army Air Corps as a B24 ball turret gunner and was shot down twice over Europe. In 1941, he met Wilma Arlene Reiff; they married March 5, 1943. In 1953, Kenje graduated from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry. After a year’s fellowship at the Strong-Carter Dental Clinic in Honolulu, he returned to Sterling, where he practiced dentistry until 1996.
Kenje was affiliated with CGH Medical Center from 1960 to 1994, and served on the Whiteside County Board of Health. He volunteered at CGH and with Lutheran Brotherhood, and belonged to St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sterling. He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Sterling Moose, as well as a number of professional organizations.
Kenje loved music, art, nature, humor, people, his friends, family and his work. In his later years he enjoyed sketching Mickey Mouse, especially for small children.
Survivors include his wife, Wilma, of Sterling; one daughter, Kenjalin Ogata of Somerville, Mass.; two nieces, Carole Ogata (Wally) King of Anna and Jayne (Matt Bernstein) Ogata of Milton, Mass.; a nephew, K.C. (Priscilla) Ogata of Livingstone; and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Kent M. Ogata.
Cremation rites have been accorded. Visitation will be from 9 to 10:45 a.m,. followed by the memorial service at 11 a.m., Monday at Schilling Funeral Home in Sterling, with the Rev. Mark Oehlert, pastor of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, officiating. A gathering of family and friends will take place at St. John after the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to memorials established for Hospice of the Rock River Valley, St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church and Sterling Schools Foundation.
Visit www.schillingfuneralhome.com to send condolences.