Pedro Kaanapu "Sam" Enrique

Pedro Kaanapu “Sam” Enrique, 81, of Laughlin, Nevada passed away at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 25, 2018 at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Born January 30, 1937 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Sam was the son of Simeon Mate and Virginia Moki Kahiwalani Enrique. He married Gina Kay Campfield on September 30, 1968 in Long Beach, California. She survives.

Sam started his career with the Army National Guard in 1958 as a cannoneer in Hawaii. He later became an Air Defense Tech in the Ground to Air Missile Program. He remained in the Air Defense field, firing ground to air missiles until the program was disbanded by the Federal Government. At that point, in 1974, Sam entered the field of Heavy Equipment Mechanic working for the Army National Guard. He later transferred to the regular Federal Government Agencies in the same field and transferred for promotion throughout the years moving the family to various locations. Once in the job as Heavy Equipment Mechanic Leader for U.S.C.G. (United States Coast Guard) he decided to stay until his retirement on December 31, 1993. During his 33 Years with the Federal Government he was employed by various agencies in several states. He also worked for the US Forest Service in California and fought several large forest fires with crews, helping to save many lives and forest lands. His last agency he worked and retired from was Department of Transportation, U.S. Coast Guard in Hawaii. Sam and the family left Hawaii and moved to the mainland.  He was a member American Legion Post #89 in Seymour for 17 years, Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #655 in Seymour since 1998 and he joined Washington Masonic Lodge #13 F. A.&A.M. in 1998 and raised to the degree of Master Mason on February 19, 1999 and went on the serve as Worshipful Master of the Lodge, Sam was very proud of his accomplishments. Some of his hobbies included playing music, singing Karaoke, playing cards and spending time with his three youngest children.

Sam was proud to be Hawaiian. He loved the music of the islands. He moved the family to the island of Maui in mid-1970’s where he played music with his sister, Emma and her group at a large hotel and cut an album professionally – he was thrilled by this and so proud of his Sister!! He always spoke of how he missed the “local” foods and beaches of Hawaii and that’s the only reasons he would want to go home. He loved his family and nothing made him happier than being at the grill in his backyard cooking for a crowd of family and friends with a cold beer in his hand. His favorite enjoyment of all was spending time with his youngest son, Jacob, at the baseball field and traveling with him to games. That was “their time” and oh how Sam cherished those days and weekends. They were making grand plans for Jacob to play this summer in Nevada. Sam was a Shriner and loved the Parades and got so excited at attending these events.  He and his family would make an annual trek to Tennessee for the Annual Shrine Parade. Most of all Sam enjoyed his family, his wife of 50 years and their three kids. Many years ago, he chose to adopt his wife’s son from a previous marriage and many years later, together they chose to adopt his three children and their grandkids. It was a choice that many did not understand due Sam and Gina’s age, but it was a choice they would never regret. When asked he would respond “God gave us a second chance with three additional children to get it right this time.”

Surviving with his wife, Gina Kay Campfield Enrique, are sons, Lyle K. Enrique of Honolulu, Hawaii, Michael E. Enrique of Trinidad, Colorado, Jason K. (Libby) Enrique of Seymour, D. Kimo Enrique of Brownstown, and Jacob J. Enrique of Laughlin, Nevada; daughters, Autumn K. Enrique and Malia M. Enrique both of Laughlin, Nevada; sister, Emma (George) Kauhi of Maui, Hawaii; grandchildren, Sierra K. Enrique Cheek of Hawaii, Lyle K. Enrique, Jr. of California, Tarrin Enrique of Hawaii, Tia (Edwin) Hagen of Kansas, Daria L. (Anthony) Griffin of Colorado, Jalen K. Enrique of Florida, Kobe Enrique and Bryce Enrique both of Hawaii; great-grandchildren, Peyton Griffin of Colorado and Mason Crawford of Kansas and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son, Cal Robert Anthony Enrique; grandson, Tory Enrique; brothers, Joseph and Donald Enrique and Solomon Manula; sisters, Lihau Fu, Candy Enrique, Rosielani Enrique, Lillian Martinez and “Noi” Enrique.

A funeral service for Sam will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at the Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home and Cremation Services in North Vernon. Family and Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday, March 11, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. until time of service. Masonic Memorial service will be conducted by members of Washington Masonic Lodge #13 at 1:30 p.m. Burial will be in the Vernon Cemetery with military graveside rites by members of Seymour V.F.W. Post #1925.

Memorials may be made through the funeral home to help with expenses.

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