Memorial for Gussie Leis

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

LEIS, Augusta F. "Gussie" was born Dec., 11, 1930 in New York and passed away Aug. 24, 2007 at home in Mission Viejo, CA. She was 76. Gussie is survived by her husband, Ken Leis; daughter, Carol Leis; sons, James Stoudt, John Stoudt, Joseph Stoudt, Michael Leis and 14 grandchildren. Gussie was preceded in death by her son, Daniel Leis; parents, Thomas McTiernan and Mollie Mullane; her brother, Tommy and her sister, Mary.

http://www.legacy.com/LATimes/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=93696297

Brenda, Tori and Ellen

Great Grandma

This is my Great Grandma...one of her voyages from Japan...they came to Long Beach, and picked her up at the Ship.... Can you believe this is how they used to travel? It must have taken a week or longer to travel overseas...kinda makes you think of the Titanic...ok, sorry, that was longer ago, than this photo was taken, but.....it still makes you think of how much progress has taken us...we now can talk to each other via the internet, and back then, they probably barely had telephones in each house!!! lol From what age my grandma is, I would guess this is still in the 1959-1960 time.... She passed away soon after in 1960. Vince and I were the only 2 great grandchildren to see her.

1945-1950?

This is my Grandma, holding Alice, my dad's cousin, and Teruko, who is pregnant, with Dennis (Tosh) and my uncle Bob, and Uncle Yosh..he looks so cute in a 'suit'..!!

Well, I have no idea when this was taken, but I believe my dad told me it was taken in Long Beach. The pier was there before they tore it down.

As a kid, I remember going to Long Beach, for Memorial Day and 4th of July. We had all the Furuyama Family there (there were about 40-50 family members++) and played all day at the beach. It was fun.

But, this has my Uncle, Grandma, my Dad, Auntie Teruko,

Uncle Yosh, (can't remember who this is, but my dad knows) and Uncle Bob.

Woodley Avenue, approx 1946-1947

I am not sure when these photos were taken of Grandma, but, I think this is when they lived on Woodley Avenue, in the San Fernando Valley, approximately in 1946. My Grandpa and Grandma are both in the other photo, along with my dad, my Uncle Kinjiro, Uncle Yosh and Uncle Bob (the youngest)

Grandma

I really wanted to put this in a family spot, but I realized, that I didn't have a family blog...

So, the dilemma was WHERE to put family photos?

so, this is where this is going to go...

This was taken around 1936. The little boy is my dad. He's probably around 2. The picture is as follows from the left where my dad is.

My grandpa, Rokuro Watanabe, my grandmother, Katsuye, my dad's uncle on Pierce, Jukichi (sitting) and then Tomio. (standing) I can't remember the other uncle's name (except, I think he's the one that lived on Pierce St in Sylmar)...geesh..see, why you need to write down names? All except my dad are gone now. Tomio-san, passed away last year in August. My dad started writing down his biography, and I can see why he has started. The memories are all we have left now...

This is my grandparents, My dad is next to my Grandpa, and My uncle Kinjiro is next to Grandma. Grandma is holding Uncle Bob, and Uncle Yosh is standing in front of my grandpa. Uncle Takeshi passed away in camp, so this must have been taken after they got out of the Internment camps at Manzanar.

Las Vegas August 10-11-12

I forgot to put anything about this trip!

We went to Las Vegas, and drove a PRIUS to the sin city in the desert. We stayed at South Pointe hotel, which is the first casino you get to after you go over the hill.

It was fun. They had bowling and gambling and a movie theater..(12 screens, I think)

Tori had a tournament at a high school and it was hot in the gym...in fact they wouldn't let the girls drink any water inside....

But the rooms were nice and clean, and spacious!

Of course, you can't get away from the reason why they call VEGAS "sin city"......we saw this at a store as we were stopped for a traffic light...Tori took the photo out the window....

Los Angeles Tofu Festival August 18-19

Welcome to the LA 2007 Tofu Festival!

It was a hot day in Downtown LA, and it was crowded...I did hear complaints, but, I hope it was good overall.

Uncle Yosh said it might be the last year that they will have it.

The Lot that they were having it in, was being torn up for a high rise rental/condo/apartment complex and the businesses were not happy that the streets surrounding their businesses were block from traffic. (it is a pain to drive around there anyways, but I didn't see it as a problem!)

It was hot, and no where to sit down and relax this time like in previous years. It also helps that the Nisei week is around the same time, and that tonight is the parade...next week is Nisei week celebrations.....

http://www.niseiweek.org/

I hope the Tofu Festival goes on next year..... http://www.tofufest.org/

If you are interested, write to them and tell them you want it to continue!