Irene Motoko Kanzawa, 98, of Fort Wayne, passed away on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at Renaissance Village, Fort Wayne. Born September 25, 1918 in San Francisco, CA., she was a daughter of the late Magataro and Shigeno (Aoyagi) Hirose. Irene was married to the late Tatsuo Charles Kanzawa on November 19, 1948. She graduated from the University of California Berkley with a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration prior to WWII. She traded places with her brother to be interned into a WWII relocation camp so he could finish college. Irene was a Japanese Language Instructor to American Service Members during WWII. She is survived by her daughter, Linda Ume Kanzawa of Fort Wayne; sons, Charles Tatsuo Kanzawa Jr. of Anderson, Ind., and Mark (Kimberly) Kanzawa; three grandchildren, Ken Kanzawa, Mia Kanzawa, and Grace (Brian) Kanzawa; and brother, Frank Hirose. She was also preceded in death by three brothers, George, Jack, and Bill Hirose. Graveside Service will be on Monday, October 3, 2016 at 12:00pm (CST) / 1:00pm (EST) at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, Schererville, Indiana.
