Tom Abo

Jun. 16, 1916 - May 2, 2016

Date of Service: Jun. 18, 2016

Tsutomu (Tom) Pershing Abo, 99 of Heyburn, ID, went peacefully in his sleep into heaven on Monday, May 2, 2016.
Tom was born on June 16, 1916 in Paul, ID to Sawataro Abo and Yoshi Kobyashi. He was the 5th of 8 children. His two oldest sisters, Harue and Shizuko were born in Hawaii and went back to Japan before his parents moved to California.
Tom and his brothers and 1 sister grew up on their Dad's rented farm in Rupert Idaho. He attended Pershing school through 8th grade, then graduated from Rupert High School in 1934. Tom started farming right out of high school until his retirement in 1979. He met Sumi Tsuboi and they were married on March 12, 1946, and celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary just over a month ago. Tom purchased his own 140 acre farm and home in Heyburn in 1948. Over the years he grew alfalfa, beans, grain, barley, sugar beets and potatoes. He also served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Minidoka Farm Labor Association for 9 years. Tom was a great match for this position because he could type over 100 wpm.
Tom was and avid fisherman all of his life and would go fishing whenever he had the chance and would often go with his brothers, Roy, George, Isamu, Tad, sister Yoneko, his wife Sumi and sons, Dennis and Craig. Tom loved to fish for trout, perch and crappie and almost always came home with an icebox full of fish which he loved to eat as well as catch. Tom was a quiet and reserved man but if you brought up fishing he would talk for hours. When Tom wasn't fishing, he kept busy growing a bountiful garden, tinkering around the yard and garage, and playing card games with his wife, family and friends.
He took up bowling in his 20's. He loved the game and became one of the top scratch bowlers in Idaho. He traveled to numerous State tournaments in Idaho as well as traveling to different states for the National ABC tournament. In 1963, Tom bowled one of the first perfect 300 games in the area. He served as President of the Burley Major League for 13 years, President of the Rupert Major League 9 years and President of the Mini-Cassia Bowling Association for 11 years.
He is survived by his wife, Sumi Abo, his children, Rosalyn (Kerman) Smith - Salt Lake City, UT, Dennis (Sally) Abo - Dundee, OR, Nina (Ron) Lemon - Salt Lake City, UT, Craig Abo - Boise, ID, and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. His brothers, George Abo of Paul, ID and Roy Abo of Paul, ID and his honorary daughter and son, Joanne Featherstone - Heyburn, ID and Mark Valdez - Everett, WA.
He was preceded in death by his 2 sisters in Japan, Harue and Shizuko, brothers, Tad Abo, Isamu Abo and sister, Yoneko Kikuchi.
In lieu of a funeral service, a Celebration of Life will be held on June 18th, at the Fairfield Inn from 1:00PM - 5:00PM. This was originally planned to be his 100th birthday celebration.
Funeral Service
Date of Service: Jun. 18, 2016