BIJAC mourns the loss of Glen Nakata, native Bainbridge Islander, community contributor, and friend. Our hearts go out to the Nakata Family
Glen K. Nakata of Bainbridge Island, age 69, went home to be with his Savior in heaven on Dec. 10th, 2021.
Glen was born to Kenneth and Yoshiko Nakata, the eldest of seven children raised on Bainbridge Island. He graduated from BHS class of 1970. At age 16 he began working for the family grocery business Town and Country Markets. He attended Western Baptist Bible College in 1971, then went to work for his uncles in California at Kitayama Brothers – the largest greenhouse growers in the U.S. at the time.
Glen returned back to Bainbridge and resumed working for Town & Country Markets in 1974, continuing up until the time of his passing. The T&C community was family to him, and he cultivated so many special relationships with his coworkers and customers over the years.
He met, and married Gail Stanley in 1983. Gail was the love of his life and they welcomed into the world two daughters Alison and Megan. He was so proud of, and loved his family, his friends, and this community endlessly. Helping others truly brought him so much joy, for those who had the pleasure to know Glen, knows what a special and joyful soul he was.
Glen is survived by his wife Gail, daughters Alison and Megan and newly son-in-law Evan Wright, brother Gene, sister Jan (Ken), sister Leslie (Don), sister Karen, sister Cheryl (Aaron), sister Irene (Curt & children Davis and Julia). Also by beloved in-laws, Mother Wanda, brother Ted (Christiane), sister Paula (Bill & children Loren, Cara, Charlie), sister Patty (Tony & children Levi and Lani). He was preceded in death by his parents Ken and Yoshiko, and infant brother Steven.
A memorial in his honor will be held on Saturday April 2nd, 2022, at 1pm at Woodward Middle School on Bainbridge Island. Attendees are encouraged to wear Husky colors, or Hawaiian attire, as Glen was passionate about the UW Huskies and loved Hawaii.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Bainbridge First Baptist Church and/or VitalizeKitsap.org (a nonprofit providing programs for the intellectually and developmentally disabled).
Comment(1)
Faith Chapel says:
March 26, 2022 at 8:24 amI was so deeply saddened to hear of Glen’s passing. As has been stated above, he was truly a “joyful spirit.” I met Glen at T& C when my husband and I moved to Bainbridge in June 2000. I became better acquainted with him during the annual Rotary Auctions, when he and I were among the hundreds of islanders who worked at the auction. Glen could invariably be found in theback parking lot of Woodward Middle School, wearing purple and gold along with Hawaiian shirts and leis. He was always upbeat and shared his spirit of fun and joy with everyone around him. I think the auctions earned a significant amount of money from any department he worked in.