Chikai Bill Sakaguchi

Chikai “Bill” Sakaguchi passed away on July 6, 2026 at the age of 86, after a brief battle with cancer. Always patient, kind and humorous, he kept family and caregivers laughing and smiling to the end. Born on February 4, 1940 in Rexburg, Idaho, Bill spent his early years on a potato farm in the Osgood area near Idaho Falls, living with grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and a growing number of sisters in the small farm house. Bill was nine years old before he finally got a brother, who was then followed by two more sisters. Although his parents believed in education, it is possible having eight sisters contributed to his desire to eventually attend college.

Bill was an excellent student and athlete, becoming student body vice president and earning varsity letters in football, basketball, and track at Idaho Falls High School. Bill was the first in his family to attend college, starting at the University of Idaho to attend engineering school. But he had already met his future wife, Mitsuye “Mitzi” Yamauchi in nearby Pocatello, and found Moscow to be too far away to see her as much as he wanted. He transferred the next year to Utah State University so he could make the weekly drive to see Mitzi. Bill and Mitzi married and had their first son, Jeffrey, not long after and lived in married student housing. Bill graduated with a civil engineering degree the next year, landed a job with Boeing, and moved their young family to Seattle.

Bill didn’t initially enjoy working for a big company and left Boeing to work for the City of Seattle, where he made a lengthy commute by bus each day. After daughter Michele was born, Bill and Mitzi bought their first house south of Seattle. The next year, son John was born. Bill then joined the General Services Administration (GSA) to work on federal projects including a border facility in Blaine, Washington and another in Haines, Alaska. But after GSA decided to close their Auburn office, Bill declined their offer to transfer to San Francisco and returned to Boeing where he worked for the rest of his career before retiring in 2006. Bill was known for his dedication, hard work, and selflessness. He was a kind, patient, and loving father, volunteering his time and skills to Jeff and John’s participation in Boy Scouts, helping coach Michele’s soccer teams, and working on a variety of projects at Blaine Memorial Methodist Church. Bill stayed active throughout his life, enjoying basketball, volleyball, soccer and skiing, and was constantly working on projects around the house.

Sadly, Bill began to show signs of dementia in his early 70s, not long before Mitzi began to suffer from an incurable lung disease. After caring for his wife and then losing her in 2014, Bill lived on his own (though mostly with grandson Harrison or granddaughter Julia living with him) but his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s necessitated moving to assisted living in 2022. Always content, never complaining, Bill was loved and admired by all around him. He was tremendously passionate about supporting his grandchildren, who called him “Papa.” He is survived by his son, Jeffrey (Nini), daughter Michele (Leigh Bloom, Hana & Toby), son John (Carol), and grandchildren Harrison, Julia, Cooper and Sam. He is also survived by sisters June, Mimi, Jane, Doreen, Una, Della, and brother Victor. He was predeceased by his wife, Mitzi, parents, Takeno and Fusako, and sisters Maxine and Sue.

Celebrations of life will be held at Merrill Gardens on Sunday, July 26 at 1:30pm, and at The Brickyard in Idaho Falls on Sunday, September 13 at 10:30am. We appreciate the wonderful care he received at Merrill Gardens Renton Centre and Evergreen Hospice, and the numerous kind wishes from those who have already expressed sympathies. Bill will be missed by all.

In lieu of flowers or Koden, condolences may be sent to Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church, 3001 24th Avenue South, Seattle, WA, 98144 (www.blaineonline.org), Merrill Gardens Renton Centre, 104 Burnett Avenue South, Renton, WA 98057, or to Emmick Family Funeral and Cremation Services Lake View, 1554 15th Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98112 (emmicklakeview.com). Donations can be made to the EvergreenHealth Foundation, 12040 NE 128th Street, MS#5, Kirkland, WA 98034-3098 (evergreenhealthfoundation.com).

You are welcome to sign the guestbook, located below.

Arrangements Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home ~ Lake View - Seattle, Washington