Tsuruko Hogenmiller

Tsuruko Kina Hogenmiller "Tsudy " Of Sullivan, died on Sunday, June 3, 2012, lovingly surrounded by her family at home at the age of 81 years. Tsuruko was born in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan, and was a young survivor of the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. She was a local Okinawan Olympian during high school in shot put and track. As an adult, she worked on a U.S. Military Base prior to traveling to America where she became a U.S. citizen. Tsuruko worked at Waukesha Rubber from 1967 to 1986 where she met her husband, Jim. They married on September 26, 1975, and enjoyed 36 beautiful years together. They retired in 1986 and moved to Iron River, Michigan where they owned and operated the Wild River Motel. In 2010, Tsuruko and Jim fulfilled a lifetime dream of taking a trip together to Okinawa to meet her family and visit her birthplace. Tsuruko loved to cook, garden, and her Siamese cats, Missy and Buddy. She was a caring and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great- grandmother and was most happy when spending time with family. Her love, kindness and strength will forever be remembered by those fortunate enough to have known her. Tsuruko will be sadly missed by her loving husband, Jim of 36 years; her children, Anna Marie (David) Miller of Waukesha, Georgina (Steven) Sexton of Waukesha, David (Trish St. George) Urban of New Hampshire, and Lisa (David) Pierce of Genesee; her grandchildren, Connie (Benjamin) Herbstman, Anthony (Candace) Sexton, Michael (Jenna) Sexton, Daniel Miller, Samantha Miller, Timothy Miller, Bryan Pierce and Jacob Pierce; her great-grandchildren, Grace Miller, Memphis Miller, and Sophie Lee Herbstman; brother, Keita (Yoshiko) Kina of Okinawa; sisters, Haruko Kina of Okinawa and Teruko Kina of Okinawa; nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. The visitation for Tsuruko will be held on Thursday, June 7, 2012 from 4:00 p.m. until the 7:00 p.m. vigil service at Cesarz, Charapata & Zinnecker Funeral Home, 237 N. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha, WI. The second visitation will be held on Friday, June 8, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. until the 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Paul Catholic Church, S38 W31602 Highway D (Hwy D and Hwy 83), Genesee Depot, WI 53127. The Rev. Dick Mevissen will officiate Memorials in Tsuruko's name are appreciated to Waukesha Memorial Hospital Foundation, Medical Oncology Unit, 725 American Avenue, Waukesha, WI 53188. The family would like to give a special thank you to Bonnie Schnabl and Barth Chudik of Pro Health Home Hospice for her loving care of Tsuruko this past year and a half.