Edwin Keiji Inouye

Edwin “Eddie” Keiji Inouye, of Carneys Point, NJ, passed away peacefully on Wed., January 22, 2025 at the age of 89. He was surrounded by his loving family. Born in Alameda, CA. on May 14, 1935, Eddie lived with his parents and two sisters in Oakland, CA until 1942, when the family was forced to relocate due to Executive Order 9066. As a result of this order, all Japanese-Americans on the West Coast were forced into internment camps for the duration of World War II. Eddie and his family first lived in horse stables in the Tanforan Assembly Center in San Bruno, California before the government interned the family in Topaz War Relocation Center, near Delta, Utah. After being released from internment in 1945, the family moved to Bridgeton, NJ, where his parents worked for Seabrook Farms. The family joined other former internee families in creating a thriving Japanese community in Upper Deerfield. After graduating from Bridgeton HS in 1954, Ed joined the United States Air Force. During his service, he was awarded a National Defense Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal before his Honorable Discharge in 1958. Eddie attended Pierce Business School in Philadelphia and his work career spanned numerous businesses including Owens-Illinois Glass Company, Kline’s Trucking, and CitiBank. He met his wife, Evelyn Pelura Federanko (affectionately known as Wheatie) in the early 70s while working at Holly Mountain Ski Resort in Quinton, NJ, where he was a ski instructor and she ran the concession stand. They married in 1985 and spent a life together filled with love and laughter until Evelyn passed away in September of 2021. Eddie and Wheatie enjoyed years of line dancing and spending time with their family and friends. The couple traveled extensively after retirement, on cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. Eddie was also very fond of spending time in the state of Maine. They never met a stranger and accumulated an extensive list of friends over the years! He is survived by his stepchildren Donna (Russell) Stout, Daniel (Debi) Federanko, Darlene Davis, and his loving grandchildren Kelly (Dave) Faulhaber, Maggie (Ben Warwick) Stout, Sarah (Bill) Albertson, Rebecca (Killian Peach) Stout, Shawn (Amber) Lowe, great-grandchildren Bryce Harris, Lorelai & Cole Albertson, and Spencer & Evan Lowe, nieces Kelly Hanzawa and Leslie Hanzawa-Cabrera, nephew Jeffrey (Pamela) Hager and brother-in-laws Ken Hager and George Hanzawa. Eddie is also survived by many nieces and nephews in the Pelura and Inouye families. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Evelyn, his parents Kikuye and Raymond Inouye, sisters Elsie Hager and June Hanzawa, an infant brother James, and son-in-law Jay Davis. A celebration of life will take place with family and friends in May 2025, commemorating his 90th birthday and honoring Eddie and Evelyn’s nearly 50 years together.

Edwin Keiji Inouye

May 14, 1935 - January 22, 2025