Ronald (Bud, Ron, Ronnie, Little Brother) Kenji Harano passed away October 6, 2021, in Rockford, IL. The sixth of nine children, he was born Sept 4, 1938 in Berkeley, California, was confined in the Topaz, Utah, Relocation Camp for Japanese Americans during World War II, then moved to North Platte, Nebraska.
In North Platte, he participated in Boy Scouts, the youth group at First Presbyterian Church, and his high school musical. After graduating from North Platte High School, he attended technical school in Ottumwa, Iowa. His work in the tech and telecom industries took him to Chicago, then Rockford, where he lived for the last twenty years.
He was a proud uncle, great-uncle, brother, car guy, tech guy, airplane guy, and sports fan (especially football, especially the Bears). He was an Air Force veteran, a vegan (before it was cool), a paleontology enthusiast, and a lifelong bachelor. He was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), a number of vegan groups, and a senior bowling league. He never missed a Harano family reunion or class reunion.
He understood the importance of sharing the story of his family’s Japanese American heritage and their imprisonment during the war. He participated in video projects, interviewed by high school students about his own internment experience. He created the Harano Scholarship, funded by his estate, granting college money to family members and requiring essays on their Japanese American history and heritage.
“Uncle Bud” was preceded in death by his parents, George and Chieko (Impie) Harano, and his brothers Roger (Bucky) and Robert (Bob) Harano, his sister-in-law Solange Harano, and his brothers-in-law Frank Christ and Yoichi Kanayama. His siblings and siblings-in-law Betty Ann and Frank Akiyama, Helen Christ, Kay Kanayama, Audrey Parigi, Gail and Ed Cunningham, Randy and Robie Harano, Paul and Kim Harano, and his many nieces, nephews, cousins, co-workers, classmates, teammates, and friends will continue to be inspired by his kindness, humor, and independent spirit. He suggested contributions in his honor to the Lincoln County, Nebr. Museum or the Japanese American National Museum.
A committal service and interment of his ashes will be at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell, NE, at 2:00 pm on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021. A time of celebrating his life will follow at the Ramada Inn in North Platte, NE.