Fumiko "Penny" Steuerwald

STEUERWALD, FUMIKO "PENNY"
Fumiko "Penny" Steuerwald, 84, of Kalamazoo, died peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family on Friday, December 13, 2013. Fumiko was born November 13, 1929 in Saga City, Kyushu, Japan to Kaichi and Hama (Tokunaga) Nagafuchi. She was raised in Manchuria, China until the end of World War II, when her family was forced to return to Japan. Fumiko attended dressmaking vocational school where she learned pattern making and dress design. She later became a pattern maker in the fashion industry and worked for over 20 years at JHCollectibles in Milwaukee, WI. Fumiko met and married Kenneth, her husband of 58 years, in Yokosuka, Japan, while he was stationed there during the Korean War. When they returned to the United States in 1954, they lived in Wauwatosa, WI for a few years and then moved to Grafton, WI where they raised their two daughters. The couple moved to Kalamazoo in 2004 and enjoyed the company of many friends.
Fumiko was a very talented dressmaker, enjoyed gardening, travel, and had a special love for dogs. She was a wonderful, dedicated mother and wife who endlessly showered her many friends and family with her loving, generous spirit. She will be greatly missed by her daughters Donna Dunyak, and Pamela Caughey, her son-in-laws, Stephen and Byron, her grandsons, Kalen, Bryan, Evan, Austin and Shaun, her family members in Japan, her many friends, and Yuki (her devoted canine companion). Her husband, Kenneth, her parents, and siblings, Minoru, Kazue and Hideko, precede her in death.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 4th at 10:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo, 214 S. Park Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. We are requesting that those wishing to make a memorial donation in Fumiko's honor consider Dogtown/Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, 5001 Angel Canyon Rd, Kanab, UT 84741 (https://secure.bestfriends.org/page/contribute/memory). The Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home, Richland Chapel (269-629-6022) is in charge of the arrangements. Personal messages for the family and/or favorite memories of Fumiko would be greatly appreciated, and may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.