Obituary of Rocky OISHI

January 3, 1938 – Raymond, Alberta

August 18, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

Rokuji “Rocky” Oishi, beloved husband of Jean Oishi (nee Takahashi), of Calgary, AB, passed away on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at the age of 83 years.

Rocky was born in Raymond, AB on January 3, 1938, the fourth born of eight children.  Growing up he and his siblings worked on the family farm while attending school.  He attended the local Buddhist Church that served as a spiritual and social gathering place for the Japanese community.  Rocky graduated from high school in 1956 and was the first of the family to attend University.  He graduated from Colorado State University in 1960 with a Civil Engineering degree.   Rocky found work in Ontario as an engineering consultant to the oil and gas industry and invited his future wife, Jean Takahashi, to visit him.  They were married in 1966 and started a family a few years later while living in Sarnia.  After fourteen years in Ontario, he and Jean moved back to Alberta with their two children.  Rocky worked for a short time with Fluor Engineering that took him and his family to England for a year.  Upon returning to Canada he began a modular home business.  After an unfortunate fire ended Astra Building Systems, he continued his work as an engineering consultant for over twenty-five years with Colt Engineering. He retired in 2007 at the age of 69.

He was always adventurous and risk taking, dubbed “Rocky” for his rough and tumble nature, and these explorations continued as an adult.  In his early years he practiced Judo, in college he took up boxing and, before getting married he earned his pilot’s license.  Over the years he travelled to thirty different countries with Jean.   When he travelled to Cuba with a friend, Rocky decided to avoid the resorts and chose to backpack around the country.  Into his sixties Rocky trekked in the Himalayas of Nepal and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with his son.  

At his core, Rocky was a humanitarian and deeply committed to his community.  He worked hard for the betterment of society both locally and abroad.  He was a dedicated member of the Lion’s Club for forty-five years and served as club president on multiple occasions.  He canvassed for the Diabetes and the Heart and Stroke foundations for over thirty years.  The Japanese community was important to Rocky where he worked tirelessly in support of the Calgary Buddhist Temple and the Calgary Japanese Community Association.  He served as President for both organizations.  In 2010 he spearheaded the Omatsuri Festival in Calgary and initiated the annual CJCA Stampede Breakfast at the Nikkei Centre.  In 2008, after retirement, Rocky continued his charitable aspirations to international development work and created the Guiding Light Foundation to develop an African clean water project.  Not only did he raise funds, but he went to Kenya on his own to build a water filtration system business.  His goal was to bring clean water to a community and support the local economy by giving the business to a religious organization to run.   In 2011 Rocky also organized local fundraising efforts for the Tsunami victims in Sendai, Japan.

In recognition of a lifetime of service, Rocky received the Consul-General of Japan’s Humanitarian Award twice, once in 2014 and again in 2018.   He was also awarded one of the highest honors conferred by the Japanese government, the Emperor of Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun for his distinguished efforts in contributing to the spread of Japanese culture. 

Besides his loving wife of fifty-five years Jean (nee Takahashi), Rocky is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Michelle (Jerry) Spierenburg; son and daughter-in-law, Courtney (Jenn); grandchildren, Kai, Kalen, Abygail, and Aurora; and siblings, Luri, Jits, Sut (Neva), Gilbert (Rose), and Mitsuko (Clay).

Rocky was predeceased by his parents, Saneyoshi and Chika; and brothers, Yoichi and Sam.

Celebration of Life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB) on Friday, August 27, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed here. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 200, 119 – 14th Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6 Telephone: (403) 264-5549, www.heartandstroke.ca or to the charity of your choice.

In living memory of Rocky Oishi, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.