Stephan Takechi Obituary

Steve will be greatly missed. He and I were very close years ago. In fact, he and his father were responsible for getting me a scholarship to study in Japan. My sincere sympathy goes to his family at this difficult time.

Hello, my name is Sharon {Eddy) Vasel and I knew Steve from Omaha University art classes and art club in the sixties. I remember him as courteous, fun and a friend. So sorry for your loss.

Steve and I were classmates at Tech High until I moved away in my Junior year. Steve was a great guy and the friendliest person in the school. He and I were in opposing Debate Clubs; he was in Senate Debate Club and I was in Eccremoc. We had great friendly competitions and he was gracious, as always.

When I returned to Omaha 20 years later and called the House of Genji to make a reservation, Steve remembered me as soon as he heard my last name. What a guy!

I first met Steve when we both started kindergarten in 1947 at Franklin Grade School (35th and Franklin St.) . We were friends all through high school at Tech High and remained friends for 77 years. I will miss him. He was a good guy and will be missed by many.

I met Steve during the last election and immediately loved him.He asked for a little assistance and I´m so glad he did. What a great man. Death can´t take away the memories.

So sorry for your loss. What a good man, always took my watches to Mr. Takechi best service and kind heart. May God bless you & your family.
Rest in peace,
Lloyd Mosley

We graduated from Omaha Technical High School in 1960. I didn't see Steve again until 1990 at our class reunion. After dinner, we moved around and sat at different tables. I found Steve, and he hadn't changed. We were surprised at how many classmates were there. If you asked Steve about classmates, he often knew where they were, and what they were doing. Steve was SPECIAL!

My name is Aidan Martin. I have been learning Japanese for four years and known Takechi-san for around two of those years. I remember the first story he ever told was a tale of him and the three monkeys. He was very knowledgeable and very pleasant to be around. Takechi-san was a man of a lot of experiences, and a lot of compassion for those around him. Takechi-san informed me about his family history, and about the wonderful woman who was his mother. He mentioned all of the things him and his family did when they were in America. Takechi-san told me about , and the his time there, including the story about not knowing the word for bathroom. Another story he told me about was the story of Takechi Hanpeita, once again astonishing me with his endless knowledge and amazing family history. Throughout the years we would talk more and more. He told me about his time working at House of Genji, Genji Number One. That story was always my favorite. Takechi was the one that inspired my career choice for the future, to continue to learn Japanese and go to Omaha to study abroad. In one of the last conversions I had with Takechi-san, he told me that I was like a son to him. There is a term in Japanese that I have lived by throughout since my first year of learning Japanese, , meaning to accept the beauty and nature of the moment, and always treat it as a gift, and to appreciate the moment as if it is your last time experiencing it. My time with Takechi-san was nothing short of a gift. He brought happiness to me and those around him and in his life. I am very greatful to have known him on a personal level, and wish we could have made that autobiography and memoir together. Thank you for the memories and joy you brought in my life.