Carol ‘CJ’ Groves
Carol “CJ” Groves from Kapa’a died at home on September 22, 2021 at the age of 78.
He was born on December 14, 1942 in Calhoun, Kentucky. He was a retired operations manager and served in the US Navy.
He was preceded in death by the parents Carroll and Opal Groves and the son Trent Ferguson.
He left behind wife Helen Groves, sons Donny (Kellie) Groves and David Groves and two grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be private.
Borthwick Kaua’i Mortuary is helping the family make the arrangements.
Richard Kenji Maeda
Richard Kenji Maeda, 87, died in San Diego on September 4, 2021. He was a retired building contractor and President of Kaua’i Builders, Ltd.
He was born on October 29, 1933 in Lihu’e and grew up on Kaua’i with his older brother Tetsuro “Rosy” and his younger sister Jane together with many cousins. He attended Washington State University and pursued a career in civil engineering. After his father’s death, he returned to Kaua’i to start the family business Kaua’i Builders, Ltd.
He eventually took the lead as president of the company when his brother Rosy died. He has been an active community member and served over the years in organizations such as the Lions Club and on various boards and commissions.
As an avid golfer, he could be found almost every weekend on the Wailua Golf Course. After losing his older daughter Cathy to leukemia in 2009, he and wife Yukie vowed to support medical and cancer research organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Be The Match.
In his partial retirement, they moved to San Diego to live closer to their family. His 50-year-old wife Yukie passed away in 2019. The high points of his last years were the time with his grandchildren.
In death he was preceded by his parents Tsugie and Itsuzo Maeda, brother Rosy Maeda, wife Yukie Maeda and daughter Catherine Stibbard.
He leaves behind daughter Sandra (Guy) Oshiro from San Diego, son-in-law John Stibbard, grandsons Jaime Stibbard, Colin Stibbard, Sarina Oshiro and Julia Oshiro, sister Jane Morioka, sister-in-law Bessie Maeda and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services will be held in Kaua’i at a later date when it is safe to travel again. The family does not ask for codes (gifts of money). Condolences can be sent to 12177 Salix Way, San Diego, CA 92129.
Sioux Ramseyer Mackenzie
To her family and friends and anyone lucky enough to know her, Sioux Ramseyer Mackenzie was a shining light, a beautiful, generous and courageous soul who embraced life to the fullest and was loved by many.
That light flickered on December 29, 2020 when Sioux died at her home in Kapa’a on her beloved island of Kaua’i. She was 66.
Born Susan Louise Ramseyer on January 26, 1954 in Santa Monica, California, Sioux was the middle of three children of Leo and Edith Ramseyer.
She grew up in the San Fernando Valley in a house her parents built in a historic grapefruit grove in Woodland Hills. Attracted to music from a young age, she took piano and guitar lessons and was a passionate book lover. She also enjoyed lots of camping trips and other outings with her family.
Sioux attended Serrania Elementary School, Parkman Junior High, and William Howard Taft High School, which she graduated in 1972.
Sioux was active and involved throughout her school years, participating in youth groups such as Brownies, Girl Scouts, and YWCA. A natural athlete, she learned to play tennis at Reseda Park as a young girl, which set her on a path she would take on later in life.
She performed with the high school drill team for two years, then became a spring sports cheerleader in her junior year, and was named fall sports cheerleader and homecoming queen in her senior year.
Back then, at the age of 18, Sioux was facing what was undoubtedly the greatest challenge of her life: the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia. I spent the next 12 months at Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, enduring countless rounds of chemotherapy and endless tests and procedures.
She was encouraged by the presence of her parents Leo and Edie, who made the hour-long commute to the hospital each day, and other family members who offered their love and support. But the disease and its treatments devastated her body and resulted in a dire prospect.
Fortunately, Sioux had caught the attention of the head nurse, who was amazed at her courage and will to live. The nurse told her husband, renowned surgeon Dr. Jordan Weisman, the story of Sioux who agreed to visit her in the hospital.
After meeting Sioux and thinking about her situation, the doctor suggested a novel type of surgery to replace the chemotherapy-destroyed esophagus with part of her colon. He warned that her chances of surviving the operation were only 50:50.
But she survived, and she fully recovered, on a mission to enjoy life to the fullest.
Sioux went north to study at the University of California at Santa Barbara, where she majored in history and minor in coaching, graduating in 1978. Always looking for ways to be different, she changed her name to “Sioux” at that time.
During her studies, she began playing tennis on a grand scale and earned a place on the university’s junior varsity team. Although he never had a formal education, Sioux has achieved many things in the tennis world both as a player and as a coach, winning many tournaments and receiving numerous awards. As one friend described Sioux, she had “a love of the game and the tenacity of a champion”.
In April 1978 she married Gus Mee, a coach at UCSB, and the couple moved to Kaua’i. Ten years later they went their separate ways.
While living on Garden Island, Sioux survived two hurricanes – ‘Iwa in 1982 and’ Iniki in 1992. She pursued many athletic activities, including twice participating in the Honolulu Marathon and running several half marathons.
She was a councilor for Lihu’e Lutheran Church, where she led fundraising campaigns for the youth group and organized the annual whale watching tours for community members and friends.
Professionally, she directed and served as a club professional in several tennis clubs on Kaua’i, starting with the Kiahuna Tennis Club.
One of her shining moments on the tennis court was the invitation to a marquee double exhibition game on the crowded stadium ground of the Marriott Hotel on Kaua’i. On the other side of the net was Billie Jean King – someone Sioux idolized not only as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, but also as an advocate for women’s rights.
Very few knew about it. Her humility was so great that she did not radiate such honors.
In 1991 Sioux met her soulmate, although she didn’t know it at the time. She had traveled to New Zealand to visit friends who owned a property in the Auckland polo club.
Also in attendance was Stuart Mackenzie, a professional polo player who was invited to play at the New Zealand Open.
Accompanied by Stuart, his teenage daughter Lexi was, and she and Sioux became quick friends.
Years later, in 1997, Stuart was asked to attend a formal event in Honolulu, but since he had been divorced for several years, he was not on a date. With Lexi’s help, he nervously invited Sioux to accompany him to the ball, and to his relief she accepted.
Their relationship grew and flourished, and on Valentine’s Day 2004, Sioux and Stuart were married.
Stuart describes Sioux as his “warrior princess” and quite simply as the love of his life.
Recalling their 17 year marriage, Stuart said, “As beautiful as she was physically and she was breathtaking, this beauty could never match the beauty of her inner soul. She gave everything else and I benefited from that generosity. It was a one-way street. We gave ourselves everything, period. “
Sioux leaves behind husband Stuart, mother Edith Ramseyer, siblings Janet (Bill) Thoma and Steve (Kim) Ramseyer, sister-in-law Kirsty (Murray) Higgs, stepchildren Benji Mackenzie and Lexi (Darin) Mackenzie-Torres and grandsons Lanz, Ace and Adora.
She was preceded by father Leo Ramseyer in death in 2016.
A celebration of life will take place on November 6th, 2021 at Holio Rd. 6154, Kapa’a. Due to COVID-19, all restrictions will be followed at this time.
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