Kazumi Nishioka

Kazumi was the devoted wife of the late Mitsuru Nishioka and a cherished mother to Marsha (Larry) George, Gail (Richard) Wayper, and the late Gary Nishioka. She shared a close and loving relationship with her daughter-in-law, Marcia Nishioka. Kazumi's legacy lives on through her beloved grandchildren: Emily (Chris) Land, Christopher (May) Nishioka, Samantha George, Stephanie George, Robert Wayper, and William Wayper, as well as four adored great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Mitsuru; her son Gary; her grandson Michael Ralph George; her brother Frank Takumi Arata; her sister Sachiko Ishida; and brothers Hiromi Arata and Noboru Arata.

Born on February 23, 1927, in Stockton, California, to Ichisuke and Shizuoka Arata, Kazumi lived a life defined by resilience, quiet strength, and unwavering grace. At the age of 14, following the signing of Executive Order 9066 during World War II, Kazumi and her family were forcibly relocated to an “assembly center” and later to the Rohwer Internment Camp in Arkansas, where they remained for four years. After the war, she returned to Stockton, worked as a housekeeper, and pursued her education by attending college at night.

On July 14, 1947, she married Mitsuru Nishioka, whom she had met during internment. Together, they began a new chapter in New York City, where Mitsuru worked as a commercial artist. They later settled in Queens and raised their three children. Tragically, Kazumi became a widow at the age of 46. She relocated to California with her daughters to be near extended family and rebuilt a life of deep connections and community. While in Stockton, she reconnected with old friends and developed many new friendships. Kazumi loved to travel with family and her beloved nieces.

She earned an Associate of Arts degree from San Joaquin Delta College and went on to work there for 16 years as a Human Resources Associate. In her later years, she moved to Dublin, Ohio, to be near her children and found a welcoming home at Dublin Retirement Village, where she formed many lasting friendships over 11 joyful years.

She found happiness in life’s simple pleasures—gardening, sewing, crocheting—and stayed active with line dancing and chair volleyball. A lover of travel and a woman of deep faith, Kazumi was a long-time member of Calvary Presbyterian Church in Stockton and brought warmth and kindness to all who knew her.

Kazumi will be remembered for her gentle spirit, luminous smile, and the quiet resilience with which she faced life’s challenges. She touched many lives with her grace and strength and left a legacy of love, family, and perseverance.

A graveside service will be held on June 7 at Park View Cemetery in Manteca, California.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Kazumi’s memory may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.