Jayne K Yoshimura

Jayne Kazuko Yoshimura, 87, of Ballston Spa, NY, passed away on April 2, 2021. Jayne was born on November 10, 1933 to Chiyeno and Fritz Fujita in Sacramento, California. After graduating from the University of Denver with a B.S. degree in Chemistry, she went to work for Dupont in Philadelphia, PA. Her future husband, Toshiaki Yoshimura, followed her to Philadelphia where they eventually married and returned to Denver, Colorado to start and raise their family.

While raising her family, she worked at their small grocery store, Handy Spot Market, which allowed her to be home for her children if needed. In her 50’s, Tosh and Jayne sold the store and Jayne began working at the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District as a technician, bringing back her chemistry skills and knowledge.

Jayne was a proud member of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest academic honor society in the USA. She was a board member of the Mile High Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) from 2002 to 2013, and a board member of the Japanese American Association of Colorado (Nikkeijin kai) for about 6 years until 2017, when she moved to New York State. She was a life long member of the Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple. She also enjoyed lunches with friends and traveling.

Jayne loved her family, traveling, doing puzzles, reading and watching TV. She was generous and caring. She is loved and will be missed.

She is survived by her two brothers, George Makishima and James (Janet) Fujita, her three children, Diana Weldon, Mark Yoshimura and Robin (Chigusa) Yoshimura, and her five grandchildren, Justin Yoshimura, Erika Yoshimura, Nicole Yoshimura, Tosha Yoshimura, and Conor Weldon. Services will be held in Denver Colorado where Jayne lived for most of her life.

A service and inurnment will be held on April 20th at 10am at Olinger-Highland Funeral Home and Cemetery in Thornton, Colorado. The service will be live streamed and guests are encouraged to attend virtually, if desired. A Celebration of Life will be planned for a future date.