Shizuko Patrick

Shizuko was also known as Susie since it was easier to pronounce and lovingly known as Bachan (Japanese for Grandma) within her family.

She was born Dec. 5, 1925, in Nagoya, Japan, to the late Shotaro and Sato Takahata. Shizuko attended Hiroji School in Nagoya, Japan from 1932 to 1938, completing only six years of education before beginning work.

She eventually worked in the Army commissary as a waitress where she first began to learn English and met Joseph Patrick, an Army soldier from Kingsford. They married on April 15, 1947, and he preceded her in death in February 1998. They, and their first-born son, traveled to the United States by ship, and she and their son arrived in Michigan on Dec. 22, 1951, while her husband completed his out-processing from the Army before joining her at their home in Kingsford.

She learned to speak, read, and write English with the help of family and proudly became a citizen of the United States on Nov. 8, 1957. They raised three children, Joseph, Henry, and Sandra, and she attended the First Presbyterian Church with her beloved sister-in-law and mentor, Ivey Jackomino. Shizuko enjoyed serving as a translator for the Japanese ski jumpers who came to the area for the annual Pine Mountain ski jumping tournaments and enjoyed the opportunity to cook Japanese dishes for them during their stay.

She loved working as a security guard at the Ford Airport from 1977 to 1982 and later worked in housekeeping/laundry at the Americana Nursing Home. She enjoyed cooking, learning American dishes from her in-laws and sharing her favorite Japanese dishes. She was also a talented seamstress, making many of her own clothes and patterns, and also enjoyed embroidery, crocheting and knitting, gardening, listening to music, and traveling, including many trips back to her home country of Japan to visit family.

Shizuko is survived by two sons, Joseph (Pamela) Patrick of Wells, and Henry (Kathy) Patrick of Kingsford, and a daughter, Sandra (Steven) Orchard of Kingsford; five grandchildren, Kelly (Adam) Flagstadt of Gladstone, Kevin (Greta) Patrick, Kristy Patrick, Sara Orchard, and Sabrina Orchard, all of Kingsford; 13 great-grandchildren, Emma, Addison, Jacob, Levi, Kaleb, Hanna, BreeAnna, Skylar, Brandon, Riley, McKenzie, Sophie, and Lincoln; one great-great-grandson on the way; one sister, Kinuko (Jituo) Koriki; one sister-in-law, Darlene Patrick; one brother-in-law, Masahiro Inosaka, and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents, Shizuko was also preceded in death by a grandson, Michael (Patty) Patrick; a sister, Yoneko Inosaka; special cousin, Nobuko Sullivan; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Ivey (Genesio) Jackomino, Leona (Joe) Conard, and Albert Patrick; and two nieces, Mary Grenfell and Donna Plasier.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the staff of Evergreen Senior Living for the care and support provided to Susie over the years and also to the staff of Dickinson County Healthcare System and Freeman’s Nursing and Rehabilitation for their recent care. She greatly appreciated all of the help that she was provided and was known for expressing her gratitude.

Visitation will be from 3 until 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 24, at the Erickson Rochon & Nash Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 5 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Cemetery Park.

Condolences may be expressed to the family of Shizuko T. Patrick online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.