Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

Life-long Worland resident, Harry Yoshio Ujifusa, Jr. passed away at St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings, Montana on November 11, 2023 at the age of 92.

Harry was born on December 25, 1930 in Worland, a son of Harry Y. and Mary T. (Nakano) Ujifusa, Sr. He was raised on the family farm north of Worland where he attended Durkee School from the first to the eighth grade. Then he attended Worland High School where he graduated with the class of 1948.

He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1951 during the Korean Conflict and served in Japan as a translator and personal staff driver for Maj. Gen. Roy Lynn, Commanding General of 5th Air Force. He also served for Lt. Gen. Roger Ramey, Commanding General of Far East Air Force (FEAF), and for Brig. Gen. Harold Grant, Commanding General of Japan Air Defense Force (JADF). He also was assigned TDY with Rear Admiral Francis McInerney, Commander of Joint Amphibious Task Force Seven, Seventy Six, and Ninety Two. Admiral Mclnerney was born and raised in Cheyenne, WY.

He met his first wife, Hisako Niwa, in Nagoya, Japan and they were married in June 1954 and to this union Kathy, Elaine, Gayle, and Kelly were born. They were later divorced.

Following his discharge from the service in 1955, Harry returned to the family farm where he farmed until 1980. In 1980, he supervised the construction and development of what is now the "front nine" of the Worland Municipal Golf Course for the City of Worland. He then served as the Golf Superintendent of the course for six years.

He then became an insurance agent for Hake Agency in 1986 and later for Wyoming Financial Insurance. In 2005, he started his own Insurance Agency representing multiple insurance companies. He retired in 2016.

He married Lorna J. (Foe) Lain in February 1978 in Las Vegas, NV.

Harry served on the Washakie County School District #1 Board of Directors for several terms and was the President during the years of 1981 and 1982. He was the first recipient of the Bell Ringer Award. He also served four years as a member of the Big Horn Basin Children's Center in Thermopolis. He was also a member of the Rotary Club for many years serving as the club's President in 1974. Harry was also a member of the Worland-Ten Sleep Chamber of Commerce where he was a Charter Member of the Chamber Ambassadors (Red Coats) 1973.

Harry was a life member of the Worland Elks Lodge, and a life member of the V.F.W. Post 2281, and a member of the American Legion Post #44. He was a member of the Nagoya/Komaki Alumni Reunion Assn. of the 5th U.S. Air Force. He also was a member of the Worland Country Club for many years serving as President of the Board for one year, and was a member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. He was also a member of the Grace Chapel Community Church.

He loved traveling to various places around world, repairing golf clubs, and playing golf with his many friends. But, most of all he loved his family. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the love of his life. For many years he donated a golf club to the API Chapter to be raffled off and the monies were used to help provide scholarships for schools in the local area.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two infant sons, sisters Agnes Kamemoto and Margaret Torem, brother Edward Y. Ujifusa, nephews Ben Suzuki and Lance Ujifusa, and his first wife Hisako Niwa. He is survived by his wife Lorna of Worland, daughters Kathy (Kenny) Clark, of Draper, Utah, Elaine (William) Albrecht, of Worland, Gayle (Bruce) Elgort, of Vancouver, Washington, Kelly (David) Brown of Dublin, Ohio and Camille Flores of Longmont, Colorado; and by nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. In addition, Harry is survived by his sisters Grace Suzuki of Denver, Co., Florence (George) Madonna of Aurora, Colorado, sister-in-law Lorraine Ujifusa of Las Vegas, Nevada and by numerous cousins, and nephews and nieces.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children Hospital or The Wounded Warrior Project and sent to PO Box 524, Worland, WY 82401. Online condolences may be made to http://www.bryantfuneralhome

online.com.