Nathaniel Asaam

In Loving Memory of Nathaniel Asaam

Well known as Uncle Fii, the rest of us fondly called him Daa, Kofi Sanyia, Kofi Nyametsease or Fiifi.

Nathaniel died unexpectedly at his residence on April 19, 2023, a day that will never be forgotten. He was only 69 years old. His family is deeply saddened and shocked by his sudden death. Nathaniel was a beloved father, husband, and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Nathaniel was born in Sekondi, Ghana to Hannah and Thomas Fynn Asaam on April 2, 1954. He was the ninth born of 11 children. He grew up in Boundary Road, a suburb of Sekondi with his seven sisters and three brothers helping run his family’s bakery business, having fun with his cousins and neighborhood friends. He loved playing games especially soccer in the fields with his brothers and childhood friends, activities he remembered and fondly spoke about. 

He attended Sekondi Methodist school, Takoradi Polytechnic and Workers college where he developed lifelong friendships and an appreciation for learning. Due to his outstanding performances as a student, he was nicknamed “Sanyia” meaning scientist. 

After graduation, he worked with Ghana State Construction company as a building engineer. In recognition of his honest and hard work, he was granted an opportunity to further his career in Germany. He lived and worked in Germany from 1979 to 1983. He then came back to Ghana to live with his wife and children and established his own bakery, farming and fishing business turning his hobbies into income earning activities.

Nathaniel had love for cooking and was very skillful at it. He learned his cooking skills from his mother at a very young age when he helped her in the kitchen. His favorite meals included seafood like crabs, snails, lobster, and periwinkles. He had love for the sea, was an excellent swimmer and enjoyed fishing. He also enjoyed literature and was a poet at heart. He would not let his family’s ears rest from constantly reciting his favorite lines from poems that he loved especially "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears" by Mark Antony in the play Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare.

Nathaniel was never scared of hard work and physical labor. He worked hard to take care of his family, community members and Christian brothers and sisters. He had very strong values and was well liked by everyone, mostly due to his positive energyand helpful nature. He had incredible patience, humility and always made time to help others. He would say, “let us do it to the glory of Jehovah”. Nathaniel’s love for neighbour allowed him to risk his life when he swam many miles into the ocean to save drowning tourists on two different occasions. He liked to reference Rom. 13:8 and Gal. 5:14 to emphasize that the entirety of Jehovah’s law is based on demonstrating unselfish love to neighbour. 

Early in life, Nathaniel met Vida, his dearest friend and wife in life. They married on April 16, 1977 and have been together for 46 years. Together they raised 3 beautiful daughters and a son. Nathaniel was Vida’s rock, and his humble and easy-going personality perfectly complemented Vida’s. They lived in Sekondi, Ghana with their four children until they reached the empty nest stage of their family life and then moved to the United States where they finally settled in Elk Grove, Sacramento. 

Some of Nathaniel’s greatest joy came from being a father to his five children. He was a wonderful and devoted father who took an active role in nurturing, caring, and protecting his children. He loved to read bible stories, told stories (favorite story, “Ali Baba and the forty thieves”), and sang songs (favorite song, “coat of many colors” by Dolly Parton) to his kids when they were young. 

As a grandfather, Nathaniel loved doting on his grandchildren. He always looked forward to speaking to them on video. When he visited, he would bring gifts and played with them until he could not keep up with their energies. He especially liked to ride the little ones on his shoulders and would laugh when they squealed with laughter. He told them entertaining bible stories, sometimes with a hint of exaggeration. He instilled in them love for Jehovah and a tolerance for reading. He loved kids and would play with any that he encountered. He thanked Jehovah every day for guiding him teach his children to love Jehovah and worship him. Quoting one of his favorite scriptures, he would always say, “As for me and my household, we will serve Jehovah”, Joshua 24:15.

Above all his many wonderful traits, Nathaniel demonstrated hisgenuine love for Jehovah and true worship. He learnt about Jehovah from his parents as a child. He symbolized his dedication with water baptism on December 21st, 1998, thus beginning a lifelong faithful service to Jehovah.

Over the years as a servant of Jehovah, he embraced the privilege of working in different capacities within the Christian congregation to advance kingdom truths. There was a time when he opened his doors and allowed Christian congregation meetings to be held in his home when there was no better alternative. He formed long lasting friendships and bonds with many missionaries, traveling overseers and special pioneers while hosting them in his home. As a member of the Hospital Liaison Committee, he supported many Christian brothers and sisters with their medical needs including hosting and providing basic physical and spiritual needs to some who had come from far and near to seek medical help in nearby hospitals.

Nathaniel especially loved the ministry and spent a lot of time preaching and teaching. He never passed an opportunity to use the bible to offer advice, preach and teach to his family, neighbours, colleagues, and anybody who would listen. At the least, he would leave a person with a scripture and ask them to read it in their spare time.

Nathaniel is survived and missed by his loving wife Vida Ekua Asaam and his children, Pius, Allan, Alethea (Baaba), Nana Araba, and Harriette. He will be forever cherished and remembered by his seven grandchildren, Nathaniel, Jonathan, Joseph, Dilean, Vaniah, Maame-Konadu, and Efe.

Nathaniel was a beautiful person inside and out. His smile was so stunning it would light up the whole room. He cared so deeply for the people around him. He was so kind and passionate; he made an impact on many lives. Even though he fell asleep in death too soon, we know that by Jehovah’s loving resurrection arrangement we will see him again very soon, Acts 24:15.

Daa, Fiifi, Uncle Fii, Kofi Sanyia, may Jehovah keep you safely in his memory until we welcome you back to a beautiful paradise earth where there will be no more suffering, pain or death, Rev 21:3-5.

Visitation and interment will be held at East Lawn Memorial Park Funeral Home, 9189 E Stockton Blvd, Elk Grove, CA on May 13, 2023 at 9am to 1pm follow by a memorial service at 2pm to 2:30pm at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses,