Sugako Jan (“Suzie”) Sakae Kuhne Pease
Sugako passed away peacefully in the presence of her children at St. Luke Nursing Home in North Canton, Ohio on Thursday, March 15. Sugako Sakae was born in Naze, Kagoshima Prefecture, Amami Oshima, Japan, on September 2, 1932, to Chiyoko and Junkchiro Sakae. She was the eldest of 10 children. She was a spirited child and would stow away on her father’s boat, climb trees with the boys, and when she was older, attend dances on Okinawa with the Americans that was forbidden by her family. Harry Kuhne saw her working at her uncle’s store on Okinawa and their relationship progressed from there. They married on Okinawa in 1954.
Sue had many adventures living in various places in the US with Harry; they traveled all over the US to nearly all the states and made many friends. She had her first child, Leora (“Lee”), in Bryson City, North Carolina, followed by Evelyn, in San Bernardino, California, and Timothy, in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The family settled in the Akron-Canton area of Ohio.
Sugako divorced Harry Kuhne and married Walter Pease in 1982. The couple lived in North Canton Ohio for the remainder of their lives. She loved spending time with her family and friends, and was very proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed dancing, drawing, music, playing cards, gardening and was an avid bowler for many years. She had a lifelong love of animals, especially her cats.
Sugako is preceded in death by husband Walter Pease and former husband Harry Kuhne. She is survived by her children, Leora Knight, Evelyn Sperry and Timothy Kuhne; step-children Fred Pease (Karen) and Andrew (Kathy); grandchildren, Jonathan Jacobs, Allison Halverson (Kevin), Dennis Knight, Timothy W.B. Kuhne, Alexander Knight (Tiffany), and Brian Knight; great-grandchildren, Erika, AJ and Kayla, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.
Visiting hours are 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm on Thursday, March 24 at Hennessy Funeral Home, (corner of York and Main), 552 N. Main St., Akron, Ohio 44310. A service will follow at 2:00 pm.
"The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, guests share a special memory on the online guestbook, or donate to the Stark County Humane Society (http://www.starkhumane.org) or St. Luke Nursing Home (https://www.stllc.org)."
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