Kenneth Michael Oka

Kenneth Michael Oka

May 18, 1951 - May 25, 2013

 Kenneth Michael Oka, 62, passed away Saturday, May 25, 2013 doing what he loved most skydiving. Ken was born to Makio and Esther (Mits) Fukushima Oka on May 18, 1951 in Ogden, Utah. He was an Eagle Scout and served a two-year mission in Hokkaido, Japan for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Ken graduated from Bonneville High School and earned bachelor degrees in Photography and Manufacturing Engineering from Weber State University, and his MBA from the University of Phoenix. His career took him to Tucson, San Jose, and Southern California. Ken was a black belt in Judo and loved skiing, traveling, cooking, and sharing his recipes with family and friends. Skydiving was his passion for 28 years with over 5,000 jumps, while setting world records, winning awards and specializing in canopy formations. He jumped wherever and whenever there was an opportunity, from Florida to Hawaii and to his favorite country, Italy. He became well known in the skydiving community after risking his life to save a fellow skydiver. Ken created the "Ken Oka Pull-Up Cord" and founded the Oka Cup skydiving competition held every year in California since 2002. Ken is survived by his long-time girlfriend, Lyn Collins, their dog, Misty, four sisters in Utah: Jeanne (Scott) Wayment, North Ogden; Janet (Hal) Torman, Uintah; Joan (Mike) Hesley, Layton; Teri Mitsie Oka, South Ogden, many nieces and nephews, his skydiving family, and the brothers he never had, Ron (Barbara) Ercanbrack and Greg (Felicita) Faussette. He was preceded in death by his parents and a niece. Fly free, Ken! We love you. Memorial Services will be held in Ogden, Utah in late June and in Mira Loma, California in July in conjunction with an ash dive at Lake Elsinore. Details will be posted online as they become available.