Katsuko Kimura

Katsuko Kimura, 42

Katsuko Kimura died from complications related to cancer on Dec. 11 in Japan. She was 42.

Katsuko was born to Kiyoshi and Tsune Kimura in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on March 4, 1967. She married Mark Haley on Feb. 14, 2004 in Sydney, Australia.

After completing her education and working for several years in Japan, Katsuko travelled to Australia to study English. She earned a masters degree in education from the University of Sydney in 1998. She met Mark in Sydney in 1998.

After finishing school, Katsuko taught at primary and secondary schools in Sydney and Orange, New South Wales. Katsuko and Mark’s daughter, Margaret, was born in Sydney, in March 2005.

Katsuko and Mark moved to Bainbridge Island later that year and they quickly became very involved with the Bainbridge community. Katsuko was a devoted mother to her two children, involving them in many music, arts and sports programs on Bainbridge. They were frequent visitors to Bainbridge Gardens and Katsuko gained much support from the large Japanese American community on the island. Katsuko appreciated the beauty of the Northwest and has instilled in her children the love of hiking, gardening and enjoying nature’s wonder.

Katsuko is survived by her husband Mark, daughter Margaret, age 4 and son Akira, age 3.

A memorial service will be held to honor Katsuko at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20 at Bethany Lutheran Church, 7968 Finch Road, Bainbridge Island.