Grandma Mitzi was more of a grandma to me that any of the others. She and Grandpa Bob were always so caring and good to my brother and I. 

When you came to Japan from America for the first time, we went to the Kinugawa and Hakone inns together.  You loved the four seasons of Japan. I remember that we ate sukiyaki in Ginza and it was delicious. I wanted to eat with you again. You sent me Cashmere sweater for Christmas one year. The sweater was very warm and you were so kind to send it. I would have loved to talk with you more and more and I wanted to show you around Japan. You have always watched over our family so well from the United States. Thank you so much. I pray for your soul from the bottom of my heart.

As Diane so eloquently stated, Mom, you were and always will be the quiet, steady North Star of the Greiner clan.    Thank you for sharing your love with every one of us.   We love you and will miss you.   


Dear Mitsuko san, I always looked forward to receiving letters and Christmas presents every year since I was little. I remember waiting excitedly for the package to arrive. I'm sorry I couldn't visit you even though you invited me to America. Rest peacefully. I will definitely visit someday!

Dear Mitsuko san, I only met you once when I was little, but we looked forward to Christmas every year because we knew Aunt Mitsuko would sending us many gifts. I used to see you in the photos on Ashley's Facebook with family. You always looked so happy to be surrounded by so many people all the time. I always wanted to go to America, but I haven’t been able to. It is very disappointing, but someday I will because I would like to meet my American family.  Thank you, Ashley, for always staying in contact with me. Our family has taken care of Mitsuko san so well.  Thank you very much.
I pray that this bond will continue in the future. Rest peacefully Mitsuko san.

I was very proud of the pink dress that you made when I was a child. My children and I always looked forward to the many presents that arrive every Christmas. I hope you are reuniting with your Daddy, Mom, and your sister Hatsuko. I’m sure you're having a good time talking about old tales. I’m so sorry I never made it to America to visit.  You were always gentle and kind.  Thank you. Because of you, we had goodtime. We will never forget your lovely smile. Rest peacefully. 

I loved that GG always gave me candy. She always gave me Jelly Beans. Yum!!

I am so happy that GG taught me how to sing Japanese songs like Pika Pika. 

One of my favorite memories of GG was when we were at Aunt Kathey’s pool and everyone went inside for a second and GG disappeared. She didn’t tell anyone she was leaving and we didn’t know where she was. She went across the street to her house to get M&M’s and was secretly eating them without us! I also remember when my family was at her house and we were getting ready to go somewhere. She took off with Papa’s walker and went to the car. Papa was stuck because she snuck off with his walker! I have so many memories with her and they were all pretty great and funny. We all love her very much.

Grandma Mitzi was amazing and so loving. She taught me how to sing twinkle twinkle little star in Japanese. She would always make the funniest jokes and I loved it when she spanked my dad!! We will always miss her!

One of my favorite memories of Grandma is just spending time with her.  We’d sit on the couch, watch TV and fall asleep together. I am going to miss moments like this.

She made the coolest Halloween costumes. She made me the best fish costume and an awesome tiger costume. My brother-in-law, Mike, even wore the fish costume years later!

One of my favorite memories is waking up in the morning and eating a big, delicious breakfast she’d prepared. No one ever went hungry in Grandma’s kitchen! From breakfasts to amazing lemon meringue pies, her meals made you feel loved. 

I was lucky enough to spend a lot of my childhood with Grandma and Papa. Grandma and Papa used to pick me up from school, but on the rare occasion, Grandma would come and pick me up without Papa. I would always panic when she was alone because that meant she would be driving on the highway to get back home. Grandma was a bit of a crazy driver; she would stop on the on ramps instead of merging and I was always terrified we were going to get hit. People behind us would honk and get mad, but it never seemed to phase her.  We always made it home safe, but I was always stressed the whole way home. 
Another funny memory I have of Grandma is when she locked me out of the house. I was stuck in their backyard until she figured it out. I like to think that it was payback from when I locked her and Papa out of the house when I was a toddler.  They had to walk down to Jewel and Ken’s house to borrow their phone to have my mom come and let them in the house! 

When my sister and I were younger, I hated Spaghetti and she hated meatloaf. Neither of us would eat either meal. So, in true Grandma fashion, she would make both dishes to make sure we were both happy. That’s the kind of Grandma she was. She took care of her family, but she spoiled us every now and then too. 
Even when I was in school and working, she would show up out of the blue with lunch for me, or cookies for me to share with my coworkers. She took care of everyone in her house and everyone in her family’s lives. 

I will forever remember being asked a million times if I was still working. She just wanted to make sure I was good enough for her Ashley. I respected that of course. I knew I had won her over when she taught me how to make sushi, insist that I make it with Ashley, designate me to cook the Sukiyaki, and saved me curry any time she made it… all the while hitting me regularly in her playful way. It’s not the things she did or insisted. How you knew you were in… was when you received that whack. My favorite memory is her sitting on my couch with Grandpa, stealing my socks and blankets, threating to take my favorite coffee cup and tea pot, and watching OSU football while yelling “Ah, come on! What’s the matter with you guys?” even though she didn’t really know what was going on.  She never once made me feel like an outsider. Even when she wasn’t quite understanding, she made sure to tell me that family is all that mattered, and that she loved me. So grateful to be a part of your legacy Grandma.

October 31, 1984… The day I was gifted the two best things, life and my Grams. She loved me from day one, second one. What she may not have known, but I think she did, is I’ve loved her from day one, second one. She was my biggest champion, my fiercest protector, and my best asset in this world. She has taught me the importance of family, the dignity and responsibility of hard work, and how to be kind. When I think back over our years together, I can’t help but smile, cry, laugh and be thankful for the time. Over the last year, I’ve thought a lot about the impact she’s had on our family, friends, caretakers, the community and me. The Oxford dictionary defines impact as a ‘marked effect, influence.’  Her effect on our family and in me has been defining. We are who we are because of the impact she had on us. The greatest legacy anyone can leave behind is to positively impact the lives of others. She added value to our lives and in doing so; she left imprints that will live on in the hearts of her kids, grandkids, great grandkids and so many others. We are so lucky that all those years ago, she sacrificed, took a chance on a tall lanky Oklahoma boy and left her home behind to create a life we’ve been so fortunate to live. 
Arigato Obachan, Aishi-mas

Grams always hated it when I called her Granny, so of course I always did just to get a reaction from her. She would always say, “Oh no, come on, don’t call me Granny!” Then she’d lovingly spank me, which she thought didn’t hurt, but it actually did. For such a little lady she was so incredibly strong! 

When I think of grandma I think of the unconditional love she gave to all of us! The love that she didn’t really have to give! She is a part of me and all of the others that she took under her wing and loved fiercely! She lives forever through us! She’s a Hall of Famer.

One of my favorite memories, grandma, is of a conversation Mike and I had with her when we’d just gotten back from Australia. Grandma was notorious for not hearing well and just agreeing to everything...

We were talking to her about the trip and grandma commented on how far away it was. She asked if we flew and Mike jokingly replied, “No grandma, we swam the entire way and our arms are so tired”.  She replied, “That’s good” and smiled. 


All through my life, Mom, I’ve known I could turn to you for help.  You were always the safety net that we could fall upon.  When anyone was sick, you would come and bring us your wonderful chicken soup.  You would pick us up and encourage us.  You instilled strong family values in each of us and encouraged us to follow our dreams.  You were always there cheering us on.  From the guidance you offered us to the confidence and wisdom you built in us you made all of us stronger than you know, but never too strong to need help from you.    I thank God for your 93 years on this earth and rest in knowing you are now at the place our Heavenly Father has prepared for you.  Your name, Mitsuko, means sunbeam in Japanese. Okaasan, you will always be our sunshine.  I know your love for us will live on in each of us.  We know you are watching over us now and always.  There won’t be a day that goes by that we won’t miss your beautiful smile.

I always admired my mother’s dedication to our family. She sacrificed so much to come to the states with my dad and Mike. She was so committed to becoming an American citizen and learning to speak the language properly. She took college classes, studied, and even had patience with me when I would lovingly mimic her. She’d tell us, “Fold the Clothes,” but it always sounded like “Hold the Clothes.” We’d stand there holding the clothes and she’d laugh and say “ah, come on!” When I traveled to Japan with her in 1985, we were there for about 3 weeks. We stayed with our family in multiple cities and I can remember being worried about losing her in stores because she was in her element and looked like all of the other Japanese woman. I didn’t know how to speak Japanese and I wouldn’t have a clue how to find her or ask anyone for help! I could only imagine how she felt coming to America and experiencing the diverse culture. She was such a strong and capable woman. I’d like to think I got those traits from her. 

I gained a second mom when I married Mike. Mitzi was one of the most gracious, kind, and loving people I’ve ever met. I have many fond memories of her—sewing Mikayla and Garrett’s Halloween costumes (I would wear the amazing fish costume she made for Garrett in a heartbeat even today!), teaching the kids to make sushi and sing Japanese songs, laughing and saying “oh, come on!” when we would tease her about something, and above all being the quiet, steady North Star of the Greiner clan. I’m sure she is shining in heaven right now.

Mom, your unconditional love for our family and me has made us who we are. I saw that you always thought of Dad and your kids first. You made sure we felt loved and secure. That has been passed on to us and we carry that on with our families. You made sure we were proud to be Americans but also proud of our Japanese heritage. I will always remember our trip to Japan and Okinawa to connect with relatives and to learn more about that part of me. I learned how difficult a decision it was for you to leave your family, culture, and Okinawa to come to America, but your love and devotion to Dad and I is why you left. You loved us fiercely and unconditionally. Although we lived at many military bases around the world, you always made our homes a loving, nurturing and fun place to be. Our home was always the preferred place to hang out for all our friends. You made it a comfortable place for all of us, surrounded by love and of course your amazing cooking. Many of my friends considered you their second mom. Thank you Mom for all you have done to make me who I am today. You will always be in my heart and mind. I will miss you so very much. I love you!
Your son, 
Mike

Mom loved watching her mother use the foot-fed sewing machine.   I am sure this is when my Mom came to love sewing.  She was a young teenager growing up in Okinawa when the American Forces attacked during WWII.  She and her siblings were taken up to the mountains on the north side of the island by her Grandmother during the invasion.  She did not talk much about those years, until her older sister, Nobuko, came to visit us in Oklahoma.  Even though it was a scary time for them, they had special memories during that time.   She was always proud of her father, who was an educated man.  He was an important man as he taught and became superintendent of schools in the Ryokan Islands.   Mom met Dad working at the Officer’s Club on Okinawa.  Hearing both of them tell the story, it was love at first sight.   They married and my brother Mike was born in Okinawa.  They left Japan on March 21, 1956 and Mom’s life changed drastically.  Being born and raised on Okinawa, a small island, she was to have great adventures traveling across the United States from California to New Jersey.  I can imagine how scary that would have been, but with Dad by her side she blossomed into the beautiful woman that she was meant to be.  She was proud to be the 1st petitioner for American Citizenship in the 4th Judicial District of Alaska, just after Alaska became a State.  Mom could do anything she set her mind to do.   She was a true military officer wife.  She managed our family when Dad was sent to Vietnam on two tours of duty.  She always supported Dad’s military career and loved him and was dedicated to him.

Over the past few days, my mind wanders to all the many precious memories of Mom.  God truly blessed me with the most beautiful loving Mother.  She had such a loving and giving heart.  Her gracious and caring nature was definitely a gift God bestowed upon her.  She was there when I took my first breath and I was blessed to be with her when she took her last breath.   The most precious memories I have of Mom are her sharing her Japanese heritage with us.  She was proud to have been born to Japanese parents.  She would share with us the stories of her childhood.  She was much like Ashley, always-full speed ahead.  She talked about her oldest brother, Tatsu, having the job of disciplining her when she would pick the persimmons before they were ripe or when she would lick her finger and put holes in the rice paper windows of her childhood home.  Her memories of her childhood home invoke a picture of a beautiful Traditional Japanese home.  She recalled for a time being the youngest and being responsible for shutting their gate each night.  She was afraid of the dark so she would close the gate before nightfall so she wouldn’t have to walk back to the house in the dark.  Her biological Mother passed away shortly after giving birth to my Mom, so she never knew her.  Her father remarried a few years later and Setsuko, her stepmother, raised her.  Mom told the story of her mother raising silk worms.  She had a special cabinet with drawers that she would put the silk worms in.  Mom would help with tearing newspapers and pulling mulberry leaves to cut and feed the worms.  She said that when it was quiet, she could hear the worms moving around on the paper.  When the worms went into their cocoons and became transparent, she would help wrap them in newspaper and take them to be processed into thread.  Once the silk thread was made, her mother would make cloth from the silk thread.  Her mother made many beautiful kimonos. - Continued

My dear friends Kathy & Micheal Birch,
Sending my love and prayers your way, for peace and comfort on this very special day. I love you and your entire family! Matt 5:4 Syrita & Rodney Ford

To Mitzi's family,
Thank you for sharing a part of Mitzi with us. She will be missed in many ways. The Belfair team and it's residents will forever keep our memories of her in our hearts. Thank you family, for caring so deeply for this blessed lady. You each touched our hearts by the way you was by Mitzi's side until the very end.  
You are all in our hearts and prayers. 

Mitzi was such a sweet lady.  She was always so kind to me and my family.  She treated us like family.  She always asked about my girls and what they were up to.  You knew she loved you!  I’ll miss you Mitzi!😘

 Always a sweet lady, thinking of and wanting to buy for others when she visited the shop with daughters Kathy & Debbie.  I am so very sorry for this family's loss.

Years ago, I made a dress, and I just could not make it fit right. Knowing Mitzi was an excellent seamstress, I saw she and Bob were next door at Kathey’s house. So I grabbed the dress and headed next door. I told her the problem, and in 5 minutes she took a piece of chalk and made marks and said sew here and here. I did,  and the dress fit like a glove! She was amazing! She had my greatest admiration!  And me and Henry thought the world of her. She will be missed.
Sheila and Henry Rhodes

She was such a great lady. I loved her spirit. My son is a big OU fan and whenever we gathered for a family event,  she would always point out to him that he was wearing the wrong hat. She was such  a big OSU fan. 

We are so sorry that we didn’t get to know your mom better, Kathey.  The few times they could join us in the Bosky Dell were delightful, and your mom and dad were/are so lucky to have such a devoted daughter.  

OBITUARY

Mitsuko Greiner

20 January, 1928 – 3 June, 2021

Memorial Park Funeral Home & Cemetery

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Updates

Services