OBITUARY
Miwa Takayama
Miwa Takayama, of Selma, passed away on January 16, 2021, at the age of 99. She was born in Kingsburg in June 1921, where she grew up and attended elementary and high schools. She was the third eldest of eight children and was responsible for helping her mother care for the younger children and for helping on the farm.
When WWII started, the family was sent to the Jerome, Arkansas Internment Center. For a short time, she relocated to St. Louis, MO, to care for a young child of a prominent shoe company owner. In 1945, she and her family returned to their Kingsburg farm.
She was married to Yoshio for 71 years and they started their life together in Del Rey, working side-by-side growing grapes and making raisins. They later bought a ranch in Selma and, once retired, moved to the City of Selma. She was an extremely hard worker – working at home, on the farm, picking strawberries, working seasonally at Libby, McNeill and Libby Cannery, United and Sorensen Packing Companies, Garry Dried Fruit Company, as a USDA raisin inspector at the SunMaid plant, and retired from the Kingsburg Del Monte Cannery.
She was a member of the Del Rey and Selma Buddhist Communities, and Fresno Buddhist Church. She enjoyed bowling, going to the gym, traveling, growing and giving away her home-grown vegetables, playing Shanghai Rummy and Rummikub with her friends, watching Dancing with the Stars, tennis, ice skating and basketball games. She was known for her delicious homemade apple pie, Chinese almond cookies, pistachio cakes and Japanese rice dishes and tsukemono.
She was a devoted wife, wonderful mother and a friend to everyone she met. She had a playful smile, a friendly, positive outlook on life and a generous spirit. She loved, is loved and will be deeply missed and remembered by all she befriended.
Miwa is preceded by her husband Yoshio, parents Zenjiro and Toku Inouye, brothers Takashi, Kazuo and Harry Inouye, and sister Hide Kawasaki.
Miwa is survived by her daughter Gail and her husband Bill Misaki, sisters Sumi Ota, Lily K. Araki, brother Richard Inouye, and many nieces and nephews.
A special thank you to the staff at Vintage Gardens/Central CA Nikkei Foundation, and Dr. Dennis Nakata, all who cared for her in her golden years and made her life happy and comfortable.
A private graveside service will be held at Floral Memorial Cemetery in Selma, under the direction of Lisle Funeral Home.
FAMILY
- Miwa is survived by her daughter Gail and her husband Bill Misaki, sisters Sumi Ota, Lily K. Araki, brother Richard Inouye, and many nieces and nephews. She waspreceded by her husband Yoshio, parents Zenjiro and Toku Inouye, brothers Takashi, Kazuo and Harry Inouye, and sister Hide Kawasaki.
Services
No public services are scheduled at this time. Receive a notification when services are updated.
Memories
Miwa Takayama
have a memory or condolence to add?
ADD A MEMORYPaul Chavez
January 24, 2021
Our beloved Miwa thank you for letting us be part of your life. As a neighbor just a few blocks away I met you as I was in my driveway washing my vehicle. And this friendly little lady with her stick and her straw hat approached me and said hello how are you! In a sweet and gentle way. From then on we became like family. Truly have been blessed to have met this sweet and wonderful woman that I call now my Ha Ha/ Mom.❤️ love you Paul and Esther Chavez
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High School Graduating Class 1940
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Four sisters
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Wedding 1946
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Inouye Family
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Retirement Party
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tending the vegetable garden
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Takayama Family
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Shanghai Rummy
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Japan Trip 2000
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Grandma and Nikko
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Takayama Family
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88th Birthday
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Inouye Reunion
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Vintage Garden Friends
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My Horse Won !!!
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Jenga oh no !!!!
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Christmas 2020
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Family photo
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High School Graduating Class 1940
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Four sisters
FROM THE FAMILY
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Wedding 1946
FROM THE FAMILY
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Inouye Family
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Retirement Party
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tending the vegetable garden
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Takayama Family
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Shanghai Rummy
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Japan Trip 2000
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Grandma and Nikko
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Takayama Family
FROM THE FAMILY
88th Birthday
FROM THE FAMILY
Inouye Reunion
FROM THE FAMILY
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95th Birthday
FROM THE FAMILY
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98th Birthday
FROM THE FAMILY
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Vintage Garden Friends
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My Horse Won !!!
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Jenga oh no !!!!
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Christmas 2020