RICHARD SUNAO NISHIJIMA passed away peacefully with his family at his side at the St. Michael’s Palliative Care on Friday, December 24, 2010 at the age of 81 years. He is survived by his daughter Liz (Richard) Chiste and their son Colby of Lethbridge, mother Shizue Yamagishi of Lethbridge, siblings; Mary (Toji) Fujii of Windsor, ON, Bill (Jane) Nishijima of Toronto, ON, Kiyo (Toki) of Lethbridge, Marj (Kaz) Tomomitsu of Lethbridge, Irene (Paul) Rohrer of Aldergrove, B.C., Don (Maureen) Yamagishi of Red Deer, Lloyd Yamagishi of Calgary and Rick (Terri) Yamagishi of Lethbridge as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his father Yajiro Yamagishi and sister Ruby Yamagishi. Dad was born in New Westminster, B.C. on October 12, 1929. He was interned to Alberta in June 1942 and was employed in the sugar beet industry for 12 years. In the winter of 1949 and 1950 he went to Rocky Mountain House and worked in the sawmill. In the summer of 1954 he moved to Lethbridge and worked on building the Lethbridge Municipal Hospital. He also worked at various service stations where he met and made many friends and acquaintances until his retirement in 1991. He enjoyed fishing, camping, playing softball in his younger years and later in life, traveling by vehicle so he could enjoy the countryside. A Funeral Service will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2800 Mayor Magrath Drive South, Lethbridge on Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Yasuo Izumi officiating. Cremation to follow. Koden is gratefully declined. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, 317 - 10 Street South, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 2M7 or to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Box 2211, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 4K7.