Kazuko Leon

Kazuko Leon, known as Sue or Susie to her friends and family, was born on October 19, 1928, in Hakodate, Japan. Kazuko was the daughter of Riichi and Shizu Takatsuji, and died of liver cancer on March 28, 2023, in her family home. She was 94 years old. Kazuko was the eldest daughter, preceded in death by her sisters, Youko (2004) and Kimiko (1952) and brothers, Hajime (2021) and Takeshi. Her husband Joe Leon passed away in 2020. Kazuko met Joe while he was serving in the Marine Corps during the Korean conflict, on leave in Kyoto. Fortunately, Joe loved learning new languages. Despite the language barrier, they married and began their life together in Japan, returning to San Bernardino and raising their family of four children: Robert, Deborah, Nancy, and Martin. They moved to Corona in 1964. All her life, Kazuko was always a mom first, but found time for additional work through the years. Although she worked for Sunkist for a short time, Joe and Kazuko (Susie) ran Joes Bakery for about fifteen years in Corona. Kazuko loved her family life and enjoyed being a homemaker after they sold their bakery. Kazuko was a great cook and enjoyed making American, Japanese and Mexican dishes for her family. Friends and family would fight over her California rolls made with real crab meat! She and Joe had parties that brought new meaning to "Karaoke". Kazuko is survived by her sons Robert (Nancy), and Martin, and her daughters, Nancy Pacheco (Tony), and Deborah. Her grandchildren, who survive her, are Jason, Melissa, Kate, Alison, Kyle, Kelee, and Martin Jr., and eleven great grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews. Kazuko had a wonderful sense of humor and was a great friend. She left a lasting impression on everyone who met her. 幸せな人