TAKUO MIMURA Takuo Mimura, 90, departed this world from Honolulu, Hawaii on February 19, 2014. He was the loyal husband of Fumiko Mimura; beloved step- father of Toshie Nakabayashi; devoted father of Laura, Janis and George Mimura; and doting grandfather of Alexandre, Karina, Andrew and Vivien Mimura. Takuo was born in Tokyo on April 24, 1923 to Tetsu Shinohara and Saiichiro Mimura, the second of three children. He spent his childhood in Shizuoka, Japan before attending Hokkaido University. His parents were rarified Japanese Christian converts who exposed him to Western culture at a young age. Takuo's proficiency in both German and English helped him to survive WWII and its aftermath and to procure a Fulbright scholarship to attend Case Western Reserve University where he earned a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Takuo married Akiko Kusumoto Mimura (1933-1978) and together raised three children in Cleveland, Ohio, while he was working for the NASA Apollo program as a research scientist until its cessation in 1972. He started his second career in the semiconductor industry and moved his family back to Tokyo in 1977. Takuo retired as a Managing Director at General Electric Semiconductor and moved to Honolulu in 1987 with Fumiko Mori Mimura, his second wife of 30 years. Takuo was a true optimist: his only stated regret was that he did not have "a lot more" children, he believed that gratitude is the key to happiness, and he valued the future more than the past. Takuo was a simple man: his only want throughout his life was the desire to stay warm, really warm; and to express his detailed opinion with respect to whatever he happened to be eating. We miss him dearly but we will always remember him whenever we feel the need to stay really warm or comment on the cooking. A private memorial will be held on March 4, 2014 at Hawaiian Memorial Park in Kaneohe, Hawaii. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Case Western Reserve University School of Engineering.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
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