After being told last month that he was terminally ill, Paul Takeuchi's doctor asked him if he had any last wishes.

Takeuchi, a retired printer and Honolulu Advertiser composing room foreman described by co-workers as the most likeable person to work with, had four wishes, according to his wife of 40 years.

"One, he wanted to go home (from the hospital)," Carol Takeuchi said. "Two, he wanted to play and be with his granddaughter. Three, he wanted to go on his new computer, and four, he wanted to go to Vegas."

Takeuchi, 65, died yesterday at his Kaimuki home, five days after returning from Las Vegas.

"He fulfilled his four wishes, so he was satisfied," Carol Takeuchi said.

A Kaua'i native, Takeuchi worked 40 years in the deadlined-pressured battleground of the daily newspaper's backshop, retiring in 2005 as a day-shift composing room and graphic assistant manager.

James Shannon, who worked with Takeuchi for 35 years, recalled Takeuchi's dedication.

"Whenever there was a problem, we'd go to Paul and he'd find a solution," Shannon said. "I was night-shift foreman, and sometimes I'd call him at 3 a.m., get him up, and he'd say 'I'll come down.'"

Carol Takeuchi, who also retired from The Advertiser, said her husband approached each working day the same way.

"He used to tell me 'I love my work' and never complained about going to work," she said.

Paul Takeuchi was easy to get along with. "He was really a happy-go-lucky guy," his wife said.

Carol and Paul Takeuch have traveled to Las Vegas three or four times a year for 15 to 20 years, usually staying at the California Hotel & Casino.

Paul Takeuchi's interests included working on cars and raising koi.

His funeral service is Oct. 17 at Nuuanu Mortuary at 6 p.m. Takeuchi was an Army veteran.

Survivors include his wife; son Bennett; sisters Dorothy Ikemoto of Cerritos, Calif., Jane Fukumoto of Honolulu, and Sharon Kitamura of Kaua'i.