Obituary for Kazuko T. Zimmerman
Mrs. Kazuko T. Zimmerman, age 91 years, of Jefferson City, Mo. passed away Saturday, July, 4, 2020 at her home.
Kazuko was born on February 12, 1929 in Nagano City, Japan, the daughter of Jiro Takabayashi and Kiyoko Ikeda. She later graduated from Veda Girls High School in Japan in 1946.
Kazuko met Charles David Zimmerman following WWII when she worked as a clerk at Yokota Air Force Base near Tokyo where he was stationed. After marrying on November 2, 1951, Kazuko accompanied Staff Sergeant Zimmerman in his further service at Hensley Field (NAS Dallas), Tx. and then Itazuke Air Base in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan. During his last tour of duty, Kazuko and family returned to the USA permanently in 1956 and he in 1959 after his retirement from service, to reside in Jefferson City. Charles preceded her in death on January 14, 1969.
Kazuko had converted to Christianity by this time and following her arrival in Jefferson City, she joined the First Baptist Church and spent an active, deeply religious life fully involved in myriad church activities. Kazuko continually completed academic and personal enrichment courses to improve her English and general knowledge.
After her husband’s death in 1969, Kazuko, a seamstress, began work in clothing alterations at Herman’s Department Store and then Schneider’s Men’s Wear. Afterwards she worked for 13 years in quality assurance at Unilever, all of Jefferson City. She retired in 1993.
She is survived by one son William J Zimmerman of Jefferson City, Mo., and one daughter, Asami Bartlow of Shawnee, Ks. She also had four grandchildren, Matthew, Kimberly, Amy, and Dylan; and one great-grandson, Maxwell; and four younger sisters, Shizuko Titamura of Ueda, Japan, Mieko Takabayashi of Tokyo, Japan, Utako Takiguchi of Mishima, Japan, and Waguri Takabayashi of Nagano, Japan.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son, Kim David Zimmerman, and one daughter, Naomi Kenney.
Kazuko will be cremated and memorialized privately according to her wishes.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be sent to the Save The Children charity or to First Baptist Church of Jefferson City for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Global Missions.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary.
Kazuko was born on February 12, 1929 in Nagano City, Japan, the daughter of Jiro Takabayashi and Kiyoko Ikeda. She later graduated from Veda Girls High School in Japan in 1946.
Kazuko met Charles David Zimmerman following WWII when she worked as a clerk at Yokota Air Force Base near Tokyo where he was stationed. After marrying on November 2, 1951, Kazuko accompanied Staff Sergeant Zimmerman in his further service at Hensley Field (NAS Dallas), Tx. and then Itazuke Air Base in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan. During his last tour of duty, Kazuko and family returned to the USA permanently in 1956 and he in 1959 after his retirement from service, to reside in Jefferson City. Charles preceded her in death on January 14, 1969.
Kazuko had converted to Christianity by this time and following her arrival in Jefferson City, she joined the First Baptist Church and spent an active, deeply religious life fully involved in myriad church activities. Kazuko continually completed academic and personal enrichment courses to improve her English and general knowledge.
After her husband’s death in 1969, Kazuko, a seamstress, began work in clothing alterations at Herman’s Department Store and then Schneider’s Men’s Wear. Afterwards she worked for 13 years in quality assurance at Unilever, all of Jefferson City. She retired in 1993.
She is survived by one son William J Zimmerman of Jefferson City, Mo., and one daughter, Asami Bartlow of Shawnee, Ks. She also had four grandchildren, Matthew, Kimberly, Amy, and Dylan; and one great-grandson, Maxwell; and four younger sisters, Shizuko Titamura of Ueda, Japan, Mieko Takabayashi of Tokyo, Japan, Utako Takiguchi of Mishima, Japan, and Waguri Takabayashi of Nagano, Japan.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son, Kim David Zimmerman, and one daughter, Naomi Kenney.
Kazuko will be cremated and memorialized privately according to her wishes.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be sent to the Save The Children charity or to First Baptist Church of Jefferson City for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Global Missions.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary.