With hearts heavy with sadness, but overflowing with gratefulness for a long life well lived, we, the Migaki/Tanaka families, share the passing of our matriarch Sue Tanaka Migaki on Monday evening, March 28, 2022. Sue (affectionately called Grandma by the family) was surrounded by her family.

Sue was born on December 14,1929 in Haig, Nebraska and was the 2nd youngest of the 10 surviving children of Tony and Hana Tanaka (Yamaguchi, Japan). In order of birth: Mary Miyamoto, Charles Tanaka, Harley Tanaka, Paul Tanaka, Martha Arakawa, Irene Kokawa, Louis Tanaka, Carl Tanaka, Sue Migaki and Caroline Fong (living).

Sue attended Haig School (K-8) in Mitchell, Nebraska and Japanese boarding school at the Japanese Hall in Scottsbluff, Nebraska during the summers of 1939 and 1940. Sue graduated from Scottsbluff High School in 1948 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. She grew up being part of the family work force on the family farm tending to the kitchen, garden and animals. The bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, in Honolulu, Hawaii by the Japanese during World War II affected life on the farm with rationing, confiscation of guns and radios. Fortunately, Sue personally was not a victim of racial attacks that were occurring during that time. Her first job out of high school was with the YMCA/Campfire Girls organization in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, one of the few organizations that would hire a Japanese American at that time.

She met Ted Migaki in Denver at a friend's wedding, and they were married on June 8th, 1952, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. They honeymooned at Niagara Falls, New York, driving cross country and staying in people's homes as one did back then. Sue and Ted settled in Denver, Colorado.

Upon moving to Denver, Colorado after marriage, Sue worked as a secretary for Mutual Graphics until the birth of her sons and then became a stay-at-home mom. Returning to the work force she worked for 28 years as an Administrative Assistant and Personnel Clerk at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center until her retirement in 1995. She was celebrated by her colleagues for her baking skills because of the many birthday cakes and other treats she baked for co-workers. Sue lavished her baking and cooking on her family single handedly keeping her two daughters-in-law and niece, Beverly Tanaka, stocked with leftover meals from weekly Sunday dinners. We benefited from being able to serve several meals weekly, cooked by her, to our families making it easier for us to juggle career and family. For this thoughtfulness we will be forever grateful. Sue had an accomplished green thumb, the envy of all who knew her. She could, and did, grow peach trees from seeds, roses from slips, and kept a thriving forest of 100 or so house plants watered diligently every week, until 2 weeks ago. Everyone looked forward to her Christmas cookies she made for family, friends, and neighbors for over 65 years.

Sue was the matriarch of a small close-knit family who will miss her dearly. Grandma will live on in our memories when we see spring flowers, eat fried chicken, which will never be quite as good as her's, or gather together for family holiday celebrations.

Sue is survived by her sister Caroline (Henry) Fong of Honolulu Hawaii, sons Thomas James Migaki (Shelley Chew Migaki) and Kenneth Wayne  Migaki (Katherine (Kitty) Preston Migaki), grandchildren JoAnne Fuya Migaki, Katherine LeAnne Migaki, of Denver and Thomas Preston Migaki of Nashville, Tennessee. She is also survived by her niece Beverly Tanaka of Denver and her daughter Hana Rose Tanaka of Hollywood, California, and many other nieces and nephews in Colorado, California, and Hawaii. Sue was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years Ted Migaki of Portland Oregon and Denver.

There were no services at Sue's request. Sue was inurned at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.

Contributions can be made in memory of Sue Migaki to the Japanese Hall Project at the Legacy of the Plains Museum , 2930 Old Oregon Trail, Gering, Nebraska 69341.