Kenneth Kosuke Higa

November 12, 1935 - November 18, 2020

Kenneth Kosuke Higa, 85, of Orem, Utah passed away on November 18, 2020 surrounded by loved ones at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah. Ken was born in Lanai, Hawaii on November 12, 1935. He lived a measured life of self-discipline and hard work. Though he was from a large family of thirteen children, and worked on a pineapple plantation to assist his widowed mother in their support, Ken excelled in school and graduated from Lanai High School. After High School he joined the Army and sent his paychecks home to support his mother and younger siblings. His insatiable desire to continue to learn and grow led to his enrollment at the Church College of Hawaii (now BYU Hawaii) where he supported himself amidst challenging circumstances and was introduced to the gospel of Jesus Christ for the first time. He wholeheartedly embraced the gospel and thus commenced a lifetime of faithful membership and service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including as a full time missionary in the Far East Mission (Japan) where he served for three years, working closely with Gordon B. Hinckley, as a missionary and an interpreter for church construction projects. After his mission Ken’s studies took him to Provo, Utah, where he met his cherished wife, Marcia Thurman and completed his degree in Secondary Education at Brigham Young University. Kenneth and Marcia were married on April 20,1973 in the Salt Lake City Temple. Their dream to have an eternal family together was realized as they were blessed with 5 children and 11 grandchildren and spent a lifetime side by side making their family a top priority. Kenneth loved the gospel of Jesus Christ and his Savior. He imparted this love to his beloved children and grandchildren. Ken worked as a school teacher for 35 years at John F. Kennedy Jr. High in West Valley City, Utah. A gifted teacher, he was beloved by thousands of students. Throughout his life, Kenneth exercised patience and self-discipline in karate training, becoming a master of martial arts, studying nationally and internationally, and earning his second degree black belt and other notable distinctions in Shotokan Karate. Consistent with his love of teaching and lifting others, he taught karate for 50 years- never turning a student away, who could not afford the tuition. Ken founded the Karate training program at Brigham Young University. He was “true blue”- he loved BYU football and rarely missed a home game. He was very pleased that his oldest grandchildren now attend BYU. His courage and sacrifice to further his education, to embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ and to begin a new life thousands of miles away from home, has blessed his family in immeasurable ways, as they continue on, where he left off, on the solid foundation he built for them. He will be deeply missed by his friends, family, and all who knew him. Ken is survived by his wife, Marcia Higa; his children, Stanford Higa, Spencer Higa, Adrienne Howard, Stewart Higa, and Tricia Elsmore A family viewing and graveside service will take place on Saturday, November 28th. Interment with Military Honors will take place in the Orem City Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Utah Valley Mortuary.