Saburo Tabata passed away suddenly on June 27, 2012.

Survived by his loving wife Nobue and children Shuji (Sylvia), Katsumi (Eiko), Toshio (Donna), seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Also left to mourn are Hannah Tabata, nephews, nieces and cousins.

Saburo was predeceased by his parents Seijiro and Masae, brothers Kiyoshi and Takao and sister Fumiko.

Saburo was born in Kelowna, B.C. on May 9, 1925 and returned to Japan at the age of three in November 1928. He went to drafting school and during the war he drafted machinery and equipment. On November 19, 1944, he married Nobue Kawamura. He returned home from the war in 1945 and worked on the family farm. In July 1956, he returned to Canada and worked on a turkey farm and in the bush as a chokerman. In 1957, Nobue and their three sons came to join him in Kamloops. From 1957 to 1987, he worked at Weyerhaeuser Sawmill and worked himself up to head millwright. He retired in 1987.

Saburo enjoyed making crafts such as rug hooking, making tamari balls and Japanese lanterns. He was an expert origami folder and during his life time he made 15,000 paper cranes. In addition he enjoyed gardening, fishing and going to the casino.

The Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Kamloops Buddhist Temple.

If friends desire, in lieu of flowers or koden, please make a donation to the Kamloops Buddhist Temple, 361 Poplar Street, Kamloops, B.C., V2B 4B9 or to the Nikkei Home, 6680 Southoaks Cresc., Burnaby, B.C., V5E 4N3.