Sumie Sunaoka Newson's Obituary
Mrs. Sumie Sunaoka Newson, age 94, passed away Thursday, February 21, 2019 in Muskegon, MI. She was born in Tokyo, Japan on January 20, 1925 to a sake distiller of Samurai Heritage. She was the oldest of seven children and was always in charge. She was proud of her position as a typist for Mitsubishi Insurance in Tokyo. On November 15, 1950, Sumie married Robert A. Newson in Tokyo before moving to East Lansing, MI in 1954 where she raised her two children, Perry and Amy. Sumie was educated in flower arranging and tea ceremony and was an excellent cook. She arranged flowers for the Governor’s dinners and loved feeding people. Sumie learned English from watching American television and passed her citizenship test in the early 1960’s. She maintained her heritage through her monthly Japanese feasts with a group of Japanese women. She loved reading Japanese history tomes and her pets. In 1979, they moved to Lansing where they managed their rental houses for the next 30 years before moving to Muskegon in 2010. Robert passed away on December 26, 2017. Sumie is survived by her children, Perry (Deborah) Newson and Amy Newson (Michael Ganschow) and two sisters, Kazue Hirano and Sachiko Murahashi. In addition to her husband, Sumie was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, and one sister. According to Sumie’s wishes, cremation has taken place and interment will be in the Spring at Chapel Hill Cemetery, Lansing, MI. Arrangements by The Lee Chapel, 6291 S. Harvey St., 231-798-1100. You may sign her online guestbook at www.sytsemafh.com Sumie’s family would like to thank the staff at Harbor Hospice Poppen Residence for their wonderful care of their mother the past two weeks.
What’s your fondest memory of Sumie?
What’s a lesson you learned from Sumie?
Share a story where Sumie's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Sumie you’ll never forget.
How did Sumie make you smile?