George H. Kato was born March 20, 1917 in San Lorenzo, CA and passed away on April 1, 2016 at the age of 99 years at the Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center in Brush CO.

He moved to Fort Morgan in March 1942, with his wife Namie and his father Kintaro, rather than be placed in a relocation center as Japanese citizens on the West Coast had been ordered to do after Pearl Harbor. He worked in the beet fields and then farmed small acreages, ultimately owning his own farm and gaining respect for his expertise and farming practices. After selling the farm in 1965, he worked for Pure Gas and Chemical Co., then Wycon Chemical Co. and then became a partner in AgriChem. As a sidelight he did custom bean cutting for area farmers.

He served as Master of Oasis Lodge No. 67 AF & AM and as Worthy Patron of Eastern Star, Chapter 54, as well as membership in the Denver Consistory and El Jebel Shrine. He also belonged to the Lions Club and the First Baptist Church.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Namie on December 1, 1997. He is survived by his daughter M. Betty Kato of Fort Morgan, his son K. James Kato (Crystal) of Centennial CO., two grandchildren, Amanda Kato (Lynn Anderson) of Hanscom AFB MA, and Randall Kato (Andrea) of Jacksonville FL and great granddaughters Lauren and Heather Anderson and Olivia and Julia Kato, as well as cousins, Mary Kikuchi of Quincy, WA and Fusayo Ikoma of Lovelock, NV..

Inurnment will be conducted Friday, April 8, 2016 at 9:00am in Memory Gardens followed by a Memorial Service at 10:30am at the First Baptist Church, 16756 County Road 18 (South West Street), Fort Morgan, CO.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers contributions to the Shriners Hospital for Children, c/o Heer Mortuary, 225 East Platte Ave., Fort Morgan, CO 80701.