Margaret H. Ogata

Margaret H. Ogata, 97, of St. Joseph departed this life on Friday, Jan. 7, 2005, at Lakeland Continuing Care Center, St. Joseph. As per her wishes, cremation has taken place, and a Celebration of Life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, at Peace Lutheran Church, 3590 Lincoln Ave., St. Joseph. Burial will be in North Shore Memory Gardens, Coloma, at a later date. Friends may visit with the family from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14, at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Peace Lutheran Church or to a charity of choice. Friends wishing to send a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Margaret was born on Aug. 26, 1907, to Kuzo and Ito Tsukamoto in Sacramento, Calif. She married Charles Y. Ogata on Nov. 25, 1925, in Florin, Calif. She lived in this area since 1945. She and her husband, Charles, were farmers and later owned and operated Chas Ogata Landscaping and the East End Grocery. She enjoyed crocheting, family gatherings, Cubs baseball and going out to lunch with family and friends. She will be well remembered by all who knew her for many wonderful home-cooked meals, her many kindnesses and small thoughtful gifts. She is survived by seven children — Violet Mizuki of Morton Grove, Ill., Ray (Judy) Ogata of San Lorenzo, Calif., Arlene (Nob) Keuinji of Sacramento, Margaret (Tom) O’Neill of St. Joseph, Shirley (Vincent) Mandarino of St. Joseph, Kent (Katrina) Ogata of Stevensville and Charles Ogata of Duvall, Wash.; 17 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren. Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, in 1982; a son, Alvin Ogata; a daughter, Beverly Thar; two sisters; and a brother.