Kimiko Mukai

April 27, 1919 — November 22, 2017

Kimiko “Kimi” Mukai passed away peacefully on November 22, 2017 in Seattle, Washington at the Keiro Northwest nursing home. She was 98 years old. Born in Seattle on April 27, 1919 to Issei parents Arajiro and Mume Nagaoka, Kimi was the second of six children. She graduated from Cleveland High School; and was a sophomore at Seattle Pacific University (then Seattle Pacific College) pursuing a Christian Education major when World War II (WWII) broke out, effectively ending her dream of obtaining a college degree and becoming an elementary school teacher. During WWII, the family was taken to the Puyallup Assembly Center; and then relocated to the War Relocation Center in Minidoka, Idaho.

In 1943, Kimi married Mark Mukai in Idaho, and shortly thereafter moved to Montana. After the war, Kimi and Mark settled in Spokane, where they operated an apartment house for the purpose of aiding Japanese Americans and their families after their release from Minidoka and other “camps”. While rebuilding their own lives together, it was important to them to help other Nikkei in rebuilding their lives in Spokane.

Kimi and her husband Mark were devout Christians. They were active members of the First Baptist Church in Spokane, where Kimi taught Sunday school classes to 4- to 6-year-old children for over fifty (50) years. After her husband’s passing, Kimi was an active member at the Japanese Presbyterian Church.

Kimi’s love for her husband, their three sons, their respective families, extended family and friends, sustained her. Her Christian faith guided her throughout her life. Kimi’s sons often recount how their Dad held down three jobs while he and Kimi raised them. In addition to raising her sons and running the household, she helped manage the family’s apartments by doing bookkeeping, managing the apartments, painting, wallpapering, and tarring the roof during blistering hot summers. In addition, she helped Mark with his gardening business. Kimi was the most loving and caring wife and mother, whose three sons kept her on her toes. In addition, she took loving care of her own mother, Mume Nagaoka and her mother-in-law, Sawano Mukai. She had an endless capacity to love and care for others, especially her family. No matter how busy she was, Kimi was always there for her family, even as it grew to include daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was the center of our Mukai family; and very much loved, admired and cherished for the example she set for us all.

In April 2009, as part of a very special 90th birthday celebration, Kimi was awarded an Honorary Bachelor’s Degree from Seattle Pacific University by then President Philip Eaton who was dressed in full regalia during his honorary degree presentation to her. Several of her Sunday School students, who still affectionately call themselves “Kimi’s kids” wrote to wish her well and to congratulate her on receiving her Honorary Bachelor Degree.

Due to the war, Kimi may not have been able to achieve her dreams of becoming an educator – she may not have been able to teach science or math or letters, but there are many children – perhaps in the hundreds – now adults – who most likely received their first Biblical lessons and Christian teachings and values from her.

Kimi is preceded in death by her husband Mark; several siblings and other family members. She is survived by her three sons, whom she affectionately referred to as “My three ‘D’s”: Dennis Mukai (Jasmine); Don Mukai (Vicki Toyohara); and David Mukai (Motoko). Seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; her sister Aiko Shimazu; and many nieces and nephews.

The Mukai Family wishes to express our gratitude to Pastor Kerry Kaino and Pastor J. P. Kang of the Japanese Presbyterian Church for their spiritual support and many prayers for and with Kimi and our family.

Additionally, we wish to thank and express our gratitude to Dr. Julie Becke, and the outstanding loving staff at Keiro Northwest for the exceptional care they provided our Mom during her brief illness and last days with us.

Kimi had a beautiful heart and a tremendous love for God. And it is with a great sense of peace that she has finally completed her 98-year journey and is now “Safely Home”.

A family service will be held in Spokane in April 2018. We will update the service information in this website link regarding date, location and place once we have completed our planning.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of the following: Keiro Northwest, for grief counseling of staff: 1601 East Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98122. Phone: 206.323.7100; or the Japanese Presbyterian Church: 1801 – 24th Avenue South, Seattle, WA. 98144. Phone: 206.323.5990.