Mitsuko Tamura Hankinson

Mitsuko Tamura Hankinson, 91, of Kokomo, Indiana, was born on January 14, 1929 in Utsunomiya, Japan to Takao Tamura and Matsu Tamura, née Toyota, and transitioned peacefully on June 9, 2020. She received her education and completed professional seamstress school in Japan. After World War II, she met and married the love of her life, Holbrook Hankinson Sr., who was serving in the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineering Squadron in Japan. They enjoyed 32 years of marriage until his passing in 1987.

Mitsuko lost her parents at a young age. As a teenager, she survived World War II and saved the family's rice plantation in Japan. As a display of their gratitude and appreciation, her brothers nicknamed her "kami-sama" which means God-like. She labored and toiled all of her life for the good of her family. She worked at several companies i.e, Libby's, Kingston Products, and an electronics company in Wabash, Indiana before obtaining a position at Delco Electronics, a division of General Motors from where she retired in 1997. Mitsuko was also a member of UAW Local 292.

She and her husband encouraged their children to work hard, obtain an education, live life with integrity with a strong faith in God. At one point in time, six of their children played in each of the bands during the Kokomo School Corporation Bands in Review concert which was a proud moment for Mom and Dad. Another proud moment was when all nine children completed college; some with advanced degrees.

Mitsuko was very talented and creative. She enjoyed ceramics, crocheting, knitting and sewing. When her children were young she would design sewing patterns and make their clothes, suits and coats. Mitsuko "relaxed" by planting and maintaining her flower and vegetable gardens. She appreciated other cultures and liked traveling, especially internationally, and visited England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Caribbean, Canada, Mexico, not to mention many visits home to Japan to spend time with family and friends. She loved playing bingo and eating meals with family and friends at her favorite restaurant, Ocean World in Indianapolis which she fondly referred to as the sushi bar. Mitsuko and her granddaughter, Imani, were treated like celebrities to the point the restaurant used Imani's picture for the 2019 Bon-Odori Festival advertisement. Mitsuko was truly honored when she was invited to sign a plaque for special customers which currently is on display in the restaurant.

Mitsuko's greatest joy in life was her family. She is survived by eight of her nine children who will forever cherish her memory as she was the best "Okaasan" Mother in the world; her sons, Holbrook Hankinson Jr., Ph.D. (Shelley Lloyd-Hankinson, Ph.D.), Joseph Hankinson (Angela Hankinson), John Hankinson (Terri Lerner), and James Hankinson (Sharilyn Hankinson); her daughters, Mary Hankinson Conner, Naomi Hankinson, Patricia Hankinson-Brown (Orlando Brown, Jr.), and Ellen Barbary (Dennis Barbary). She took great pleasure and pride in being "Obachan", Grandmother and Grandma to eighteen grandchildren Danielle Seals, Tahisia Williams, Kolyaun Williams, Holbrook Hankinson III, Mitsuko Tamura Conner Newlan (Geoff Newlan), Maha Ati Conner (Maranda Lovato), Masao Conner, Mansai Conner (Samantha Gomez), Imani Hankinson, Quiana Harris, Deontei Harris, Christopher Harris, Ph.D., Jai-Marcus Harris, Daniel Brown, Caleb Brown, Braxton Hankinson-Barbary, Brooke Hankinson-Barbary, and Brock Duke; and several great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Eizo Tamura of Tokyo, Japan; her sister, Yuki Kojima of Kanagawaken, Japan, and a host of nieces, nephews, and dear friends, Misako Johnson and Jessica Oliver.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband; her daughter, Jury Hankinson Williams; her brothers, Koshiro, Uzaburo, Hatsuo, and Hiroshi Tamura; her sister, Kiyoko Tamura; her grandsons, Charles Edward Coleman, Jr. and Aubry Sinclair Hankinson-Barbary.

Due to Covid-19, private funeral services for Mitsuko Tamura Hankinson will be held on June 20, 2020 at Ellers Mortuary & Cremation Center Webster Chapel.