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It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Takehiko “Taxie” Yamamoto on Sunday, April 5, 2026, at the age of 97. He is now reunited with his beloved wife, Annie (née Wrazy). Taxie, known as “Gege” to his family, will be deeply missed by his daughters Adele Arbour and Josephine O’Brien, his grandchildren, Gregory Filson (Tianna), Kathy O’Brien, and Francis O’Brien (Stephanie Wybrew). Forever in the hearts of his great-grandchildren, Sloane and Myles O’Brien, who brought him great joy. Beloved brother of Henry Yamamoto (Lois). Predeceased by his parents, Fusakichi and Uematsu (née Tomie), sister, Mitsuyo Uyematsu, as well as his son, Edward Wiekowicz, and grandson, Gerald Filson.
A celebrated chef, Taxie earned several awards for his culinary skills during his career with the Niagara Parks Commission and the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club. Taxie also took great pride in gardening, which earned him and Annie a Trillium Award for their beautiful yard. Delicious meals and welcoming gardens created many fond memories for family and friends over the years. Taxie enjoyed spending time with family and watching sports, unwaveringly cheering on his favourite teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Las Vegas Raiders.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Heidehof for their exceptional care, compassion, and kindness. A special thank you to Nicole for her dedicated care, support, and friendship.
In keeping with Taxie’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. His final resting place will be Doan’s Ridge Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest with his beloved wife. Arrangements have been entrusted to Tranquility Burial & Cremation Services (Niagara) Inc. Condolences may be shared at tranquilitycremation.com.
He will be remembered for his love of family, quiet strength, and the lasting impact he made on all who knew him. We love you and will miss you — Ichiban!
For free information on any of our cremation services, or if you just have a question, simply fill in the form below:
Our goal is providing a low cost, all inclusive alternative to traditional funeral homes for those who value a respectful and modern approach to funeral care. Whether your choice is direct cremation, burial or a personalized memorial service to celebrate a life, we will strive to make your wishes a reality.