Kazuko Butler

Kazuko Ishikawa Butler, the daughter of Toichiro and Yoko Ishikawa, was born in Tokyo, Japan, on January 28, 1928. She passed away peacefully on July 12, 2021, at the Forest Park Adult Family Home in Auburn, Washington. Kazuko met her husband, Edward, in Nagoya, Japan, where he was a member of the Army Air Corp during the U.S. military occupation of Japan. They were married at the American Consulate in Nagoya on February 16, 1951. Approximately one year later, she traveled to America with Ed and daughter, Marilyn Jean. Over the next six years, a son, Daniel Allan, and another daughter, Ramona Gail, joined the family. During Ed’s Air Force career, they traveled extensively to locations in Japan, Turkey, Indiana, Texas, California, Arizona, Florida and Washington. Ed and Kazuko celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary in their Enumclaw home where they resided for 24 years.

A generous, creative spirit, Kazuko had many artistic talents including tailoring, quilting, crocheting, knitting, gardening, cooking, and baking. Kazuko especially enjoyed creating mobiles of hanging origami cranes that she loved to give to family and friends. Ed would say, “she is like a jewel, one in a million,” a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, devoted to her husband and family. We will treasure her memory always, and miss her dearly.

Kazuko was preceded in death by her parents, her older brother, Akira Ishikawa, her grandson, Christopher Brown, and her husband.

She is survived by her younger brother, Hiroshi Ishikawa (Naoko); her children, Marilyn Jean Anderson (Martin Birnie), Daniel Butler (Linda Hansen), and Ramona Thimgan (Tom); two granddaughters, Shauna Brown and Sydney Anderson; three great-grandchildren; and four step grandchildren.

Kazuko will be laid to rest with Ed at Tahoma National Cemetery. 

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