Jean Konishi

Jean Konishi, 90, a longtime Moses Lake, Wash., resident, passed away in the comfort of her home Sept. 17, 2025.

Born on Oct. 18, 1934, in Ontario, Ore., to Frank and Hatsue Uriu, Jean graduated from Ontario High School and went on to study at Northwestern Business School in Portland, Ore. In 1954, she married Ichiro "Ich" Konishi, and the couple made their home in Moses Lake and Warden, Wash. Following her husband's passing in 1972, Jean briefly relocated to Weiser, Idaho, before returning to Moses Lake in 1977, where she would spend the remainder of her life.

Jean built a career in hospitality, beginning as a hostess at the Best Western Hallmark Inn and Conference Center in 1979. Through hard work and dedication, she advanced to become the Sales & Catering Banquet Manager, a position she held from 1983 until her retirement in 2004. Not ready to fully retire, she continued serving her community as a part-time employee at the Chamber of Commerce from 2005 to 2007. Her contributions to the community were recognized when she was awarded the Rotary Club’s Paul Harris Fellow award in November 2024. In her retirement years, Jean found joy in reading and tending to her yard.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Ich; her parents, Frank and Hatsue Uriu; her brother, Bob Uriu; and her nephew and niece, Robert and Staci Uriu. 

She is survived by her daughters, Tami (Louis) Alling, Linda Konishi and Tracy (Ken Lee) Konishi; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She also leaves behind her brother. Tom (Gail) Uriu; nephew Todd (Miyuki) Uriu and their two children; nephew Ken Uriu; and niece Daphne Uriu (daughter of Bob).

Jean will be interred at Pioneer Memorial Gardens. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook or leave a note for the family at https://bit.ly/JKONISHI.