- Date Of Birth: May 24, 1922
- Date Of Death: November 4, 2016
- State: Idaho
Ayako Takasugi, beloved mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully in her sleep on November the 4th, 2016 in Bellevue, Washington at the age of 94. Aya was born on May 24, 1922 to Frank and Yoshi Horiye in Lewiston, Utah. The family moved to Benson, Utah and later purchased a farm in Deweyville, Utah. Aya and her siblings helped her parents daily on their dairy and crop farm. She graduated from Bear River High School in Garland, Utah.
In 1948, she met Michio (Mich) Takasugi who was a close friend of his sister Mary. They were married in Brigham City, Utah and a year later, their son, Patrick (Pat) was born. Mich and Aya decided to move to Adrian, Oregon and bought an 80-acre farm. Their daughter, Colleen was born in 1951. Sadly, Aya and Mich lost their third child, Joseph, at birth in 1953. After farming in Adrian for 2 years, they moved to Wilder, Idaho where they farmed 160 acres and lived for 60 years and enjoyed the Wilder community and their many friends.
Aya was a very loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She treasured her family above all else and always put their needs before her own. She worked very hard helping Mich on the farm, often working in the fields when they first started farming and driving both the tractor and truck. She toiled endlessly in the home she and Mich had created. She was famous for her excellent cooking skills and unending generosity. Unknown to many, in the early years, she decorated cakes for special occasions as well as wedding cakes. She was an outstanding seamstress – sewing most of her children’s clothing when they were small, even sewing a suit for her small son, Patrick.
Aya instilled in her children an enjoyment for life and the joy of laughter. She always had a ready smile for those close to her as well as strangers. She was a very strong and loving individual; committed to always doing the job to your best ability; highly disciplined and very kind; all qualities that have endured through her children and grandchildren. She was artistic and would paint when she had the time. She instilled in her children many honorable values and the gift of laughter and enjoyment of life.
Preceding Aya in death was her husband Mich and loving son, Patrick and son Joseph; father, mother, brothers Lori, Ichi, Kanichi, Max and sisters Lily Nakano and Yutako Hikida.
Surviving Aya is her loving daughter Colleen and her husband Andy Iwano of Mercer Island, Washington; loving daughter-in-law Suzanne Takasugi of Wilder, Idaho and four precious grandchildren: David Iwano, Taylor Takasugi, Cole Takasugi and Paige Takasugi.
She will always be remembered with enduring love and affection and we know there will never be another person like her to grace our lives; we will miss her sweet smile greatly.
