Adeline "Addie" Kano

Obituary Adeline "Addie" Kyoko Kano, passed away peacefully on July 30, 2018 at the age of 90 at the Lemay Avenue Health and Rehabilitation Facility with her brother Cyrus and niece Jennifer by her side. Addie was born in Mitchell, Nebraska on November 22, 1927 to Hiram Hisanori Kano and Ai Ivy (Aiko Nagai) Kano, both Japanese immigrants. Addie grew up in North Platte and Scottsbluff, Nebraska, attending elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse where she excelled and skipped one grade. She graduated from Scottsbluff High School in 1944 at the age of 16 and was the valedictorian of her class. It was an honor the school principal asked her in writing to decline due to her father's arrest and three-year internment during World War II. Addie was initially devastated but after some consideration she went to the principal's office with "head held high" and explained that her father was only a victim of the war, had not committed any crime, and that she would not decline the honor. Shortly after her graduation, her father, a deacon in the Episcopal Church, and still on parole following his release from the camps, went to study at Nashotah House, an Episcopal seminary in Wisconsin on the recommendation of the bishop and the district attorney. Addie and her mother moved to Milwaukee to be near him where Addie attended Milwaukee-Downer College. When the family returned to Nebraska after her father's graduation in 1946, he was ordained an Episcopal priest, and she continued her education at the University of Nebraska, graduating in 1948 with a BS in biochemistry. It was during her time as a student at UN that she met Jack Kiewitt, her assigned science lab partner, who was to be her significant other until his death in 2001. They enjoyed pursuing their common interests in photography, camping and hiking together and co-owned a log cabin in Estes Park where they had easy access to Rocky Mountain National Park, one of their favorite places. Addie spent her entire career-42 ½ years-working at Colorado State University in the chemistry department and then the new biochemistry department after it's creation. She began as a research assistant, then taught as an assistant professor and laboratory instructor before becoming a department administrator. She retired in 1991. Addie was an active member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Fort Collins, and a member of the Order of the Daughters of the King whose purpose is "to know Jesus Christ, to make Him known to others, and to become reflections of God's love throughout the world." Addie loved flowers and was a member of the St. Paul's flower committee. Her beautiful arrangements often graced the altar, and after the services, were made into smaller arrangements that she and others would take to those celebrating special days and folks unable to attend services. She was also a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a philanthropic organization dedicated to "helping women reach for the stars" through education and motivation. Addie had a ready and radiant smile for everyone and genuinely loved helping people. She was easy to talk to whenever anyone needed to share their inner sorrows or joys. Even when she was in assisted living, she was always thinking of others and would leave little gifts hanging on the door knobs of other residents. She truly was a "reflection of God's love." Addie is survived by her older brother, Cyrus Kano; three nieces, Jennifer Kano, Becky Kinney and Susan Kano; one nephew, David Kano; six grand nephews, three grand nieces, two great-grand nephews, one great-grand niece, and her devoted godson Scott Cruea. Memorial Service St. Luke's Episcopal Church Saturday, September 08, 2018 10:30 AM Email Details 2000 S. Stover Street Fort Collins, Colorado 80525 Directions Services You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Adeline "Addie" Kano