Allan Onagi
November 15, 1934 - Thursday, July 26, 2018

After a seven month battle with pancreatic cancer, Allan Onagi passed away peacefully surrounded by his family Thursday July 26, 2018. He was 83 years old.

Allan is survived by his wife Emily, son Harry (Trista), daughter Sherri, brother Harold (Nancy), brother Peter (Patricia), sister Ruby (Theodore), grandson Cole (Mikaela), granddaughter Tara (Greg), granddaughter Chantelle, grandson Joseph, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Allan was born in Port Haney, British Columbia (now Maple Ridge). He is predeceased by his father Kankichi, mother Fuku, brother Harry, and sister Aster (Masatoshi).

The family was forcibly moved to a sugar beet farm in southern Manitoba during the 1942 Japanese internment. He joined the military as a 17-year old in 1952 and served as a munitions and weapons technician in the RCAF for ten years. In that time he was stationed in the Canadian Maritimes, Europe, and North Africa. Allan had a gift for languages and spoke at least seven (Japanese, French, English, German, Italian, Dutch, and Spanish).

After leaving the military in 1962, Allan pursued a career in automotive sales that eventually spanned 25 years. He met his wife Emily during a curling match in Calgary and they were married November 21, 1964. Allan was a renowned salesman in the industry and his job necessitated movement between many cities in Western Canada. At one point he worked for Nissan as a specialist in advising substandard dealerships.

In 1968 Allan and Emily adopted their son Harry, and daughter Sherri in 1969. In 1975, the family moved to High River, Alberta where he founded Imperial Datsun (Nissan), a small dealership and auto repair business. While in High River he developed an interest in the Lions Club and became an avid member. This culminated in 1982 when he became the Lions District Governor for district 37-E, an achievement of great time and energy. He also became heavily involved with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

Allan had a wry sense of humor (and occasionally caustic tongue). Throughout his life he pursued a wide array of hobbies including mountaineering, camping, Formula Atlantic car racing, and backgammon. He spent his later years working as a commissionaire at various locations throughout Calgary before permanently retiring in 2015. Allan loved his dogs, defeating his son at backgammon, and the occasional visit to a casino.

Allan will be cremated and interred in Regina in the fall. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Alberta Cancer Foundation (https://albertacancer.ca/donate).

To view and share photos, condolences and stories of Allan please visit www.choicememorial.com.