Josephine Y. Chikuma

Josephine Y. Chikuma was born in Sedgwick, CO to parents Nagahiko and Aki Mizunaga. In 1922 they ventured to Granby, CO to raise lettuce, then to Brighton in 1925 where they ran a café and farmed. She graduated from Brighton High School in 1937. On December 11, 1941 she married Sam Chikuma, a Brighton farmer. They farmed until his death from colon cancer in 1974. During this time she also worked at Union REA (now United Power). She married John Miyasaki of Longmont, in 1977. A co-owner of Mountain Truck and Equipment, he died in 1993 of liver cancer. She returned to Brighton where she lived with daughter Gail for 10 years. In 2004 she moved to Inglenook Assisted Living in Brighton.

This past year with the Covid crisis was difficult as she was quarantined from family for an entire year. The Inglenook staff provided a lot of comfort and support to her; there are Angels among us, Thank You. The quarantine was lifted on March 16, 2021 and her family was able to visit. On March 28 she became tired and decided to lay down and die. She passed away on April 8 of old age at 101 years old.

She is survived by sons Donald (Thelma) of Seattle, Walter (Sharon) of Brighton; son in law George Tagawa, husband of deceased daughter Gail, of Brighton; 8 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Also survived by John Miyasaki's children Glenn Miyasaki, Gwendy Lykke, Tammy Golden, Meri Miyasaki.

Because of Covid a private family burial is scheduled. A formal memorial service is planned for September 25, 2021, depending on the pandemic.

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