Junko Mizuta - 100

Homwood, Illinois

Junko Mizuta passed away at home, peacefully in her sleep on September 8, 2025. She was 100 years old. Born in Portland, Oregon, her life was shaped by the culture and landmark events in the U.S. over the past century.

During WWII, Junko was interned at Minidoka as part of the incarceration of those of Japanese descent living on the west coast. After the war, she went out east and received a degree in Zoology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She worked as part of a medical research team at Northwestern after graduation, doing work in the lab for studies on gastroenterology. 

She later married Takanori Mizuta and stayed home to raise their two children. When the kids were older she scaled back her career, working as a substitute teacher and doing administrative office work. Tak and Junko spent 65 wonderful years together until his passing in January 2023. They were never apart.

An overcomer, Junko lived a full and meaningful life. She found great joy in being a mom and grandmother, was proud of her career accomplishments, and expressed her creativity with hobbies as an accomplished seamstress, baker, and crafter. She continued to be an avid Michigan football fan throughout her life.

Junko also deeply cherished her many friendships throughout the years. She was a loyal, loving, and supportive friend and maintained lifelong bonds with several people whose friendships with her spanned more than 70 years.

Junko’s memory will be treasured by her beloved daughter, Joan (Russell) Begitschke; her son Stuart Mizuta; and her grandchildren, David (Sara) Begitschke and Amber (Dorothea) Green. Junko was lovingly preceded in death by her father, mother, and sister Harue.