Milestones Icon: Kanemoto

The Kanemoto family is a humble bunch, but if you live in Longmont, you have probably heard the family name or seen something the family has donated to the city.

That’s because the Kanemoto family has included several farmers and land developers, donating many acres to Longmont to be used by its residents, including Kanemoto Park and its five-story Tower of Compassion pagoda. The park was a gift in gratitude for the treatment the family received during World War II. While other Japanese families across the country were sent to internment camps, the Kanemotos – like hundreds of other Japanese-American families in Colorado – stayed at home.

Other land donated by the Kanemotos has been used to build an elementary school, a fire station, school administration offices, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, a Buddhist temple, and the St. Vrain River Greenway.

The Kanemoto story started in Longmont in the early 1900s when the family first moved to the Longmont area and rented a farm. In the 1940s, the family bought its own farm south of Longmont at a location that is now South Main Street. They raised vegetables and sugar beets. In the summer and fall, they sold fresh produce from their Freshway Market vegetable stand. They farmed here for nearly 30 years. Jimmie was also an inventor and had patents on some irrigation equipment, creating the Kane Manufacturing and Supply Co.

Jimmie Kanemoto served on numerous boards and leadership positions in city government, economic development, religion, nonprofits, the hospital and the school district. He received numerous awards and recognitions for service, including letters of commendation from then President Ronald Reagan and Colorado Gov. Roy Romer, and from previous Colorado Gov. John Vanderhoof, who dedicated the Tower of Compassion.

Jimmie Kanemoto received the Order of the Rising Sun medal from the Emperor of Japan for his work to improve U.S. and Japanese relations. He also was president of the 20-story Sakura Square Project when it was built in downtown Denver and served as president of the Buddhist Churches of America. The Longmont Rotary created the Jim Kanemoto International Peace and Compassion Award to give to worthy recipients in his honor.

Jimmie Kanemoto climbed Long’s Peak when he turned 80 – a picture taken there shows him smiling broadly at the achievement.

Jimmie and Chiyo Kanemoto had two children: Ken and Joyce (Williams). George and Jane Kanemoto had four children: Ed, Dale, Gail (Hogsett), and Karen (Wood).

From their original careers, Ken and Ed became partners in Title Realty. Through several mergers, the business became a part of Prudential Rocky Mountain Realtors. Ed’s son Keith is following in the family real estate tradition. 

In addition, Ken and Ed Kanemoto have been active on numerous boards for business, nonprofits, and charitable organizations, including the Longmont Area Economic Council, three different bank boards, the Chamber of Commerce, Foothills United Way, the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame, Hover Community Inc., the Longmont United Hospital Board, the Longmont United Hospital Foundation, the St. Vrain YMCA the Boulder County YMCA, and the Longmont Industrial Board. 

Other Kanemoto siblings have made contributions to Boulder County through their ownership or partnership in the following companies – Walters & Hogsett (Gail Hogsett), Gold Key Travel (Karen Wood), and 1st MainStreet Insurance (Scott Kanemoto).