Douglas "Bud" Miyamoto

Douglas (Bud) Miyamoto, son of Marcella (Fuoter) Miyamoto and Harry Miyamoto, was born on December 6th, 1945, at Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin.  He was baptized and confirmed in his faith at St. Luke’s Methodist Church on the North Side.

Bud attended Logan High School and was the Senior Class President of the class of 1964.  He was an excellent running back for the football team.  Logan honored Bud as an Alumni in 1999 with a plaque on their Wall of Fame for the many achievements in his life, especially in the leadership of helping to restore the Downtown of La Crosse.  He worked many years as the Director of Downtown Mainstreet, Inc. and was especially pleased with being able to help restore Riverside Park to such a beautiful place for families and visitors.

Bud and Mitzi (Dahl) met in St. Paul, MN. and were married on April 15th, 1969, after the briefest and sweetest of courtships.  They were close to celebrating 55 years together.  They raised two sons, Chad and Ken. The family spent countless days on their boat, both on Pokegama Lake in Grand Rapids, and as river rats on the Mississippi River. Bud and Mitzi found the daughter they always wanted in Ken’s wife, Amy, and were blessed with two grandsons, Jackson and Tyler.

Bud was passionate about golf.  He loved to fish.  He loved the Packers.  He loved his church and sang in the choir.  But mostly he loved his family, including his in-laws, Scott and Lori. He was an excellent father, and a wonderful husband (as well as a “pastor’s spouse”).  Bud considered his two grandsons the best of all the blessings in his life.  His role as “Papa” brought him such joy and helped sustain him in his illness.

Grieving their loss but trusting in the promises of God are his wife, Mitzi; sons, Chad and Ken (Amy); grandsons, Jackson and Tyler; in-laws, Scott and Lori Konkel; two brothers, Ken Miyamoto(Sue) and Mick Miyamoto(Kathy); two sisters, Marge(Steve) Buelow, and Donna(Ken) Groetsch; brothers-in-law, Dave Dahl(Karen) and Duane Dahl (Carol), George(Pat) Domingo; sisters-in-law, Sharon(Bill) Allen and Penny (John) Warnke; along with many nephews and nieces. Bud was preceded in death by his parents.  May God bless his memory among us.

You are all invited to attend a memorial gathering at Coon Valley Lutheran Church on Sunday, June 2nd, at 2:00 p.m.  Come into the sanctuary to informally share hugs/greetings with Pastor Mitzi, Bud’s sons, Ken’s wife, and the grandsons.  We will sing a couple of Bud’s favorite hymns.  Several folks will share a few words about Bud.  Then we will head downstairs for cake and coffee.  Anyone who wishes can continue sharing stories/memories over coffee.

Bud’s family will gather in Estes Park, CO, at the end of July and celebrate his life.   Mitzi’s brother, Rev. Dave Dahl, will lead a service of committal as Bud’s ashes are released into the Fall River.  It was his happy place and these were his last wishes.