Fumiko "Nanniko" Henshaw

Fumiko "Nanniko" Henshaw, 89, of the Riverton community, passed away on Saturday morning while surrounded by her loving family.

Fumiko was born March 6, 1929, in Tokyo, Japan to Goroh and Chiyoko Kubota. She vividly remembered hearing about the attack of Pearl Harbor and the fear she felt knowing her country was entering into a devastating war.  There were many obstacles that Fumiko had to overcome during her childhood.  Due to fire bombs, she lost her home and all of their possessions, except what little her family recovered and could load onto a cart.  Her family was separated, and food was scarce.  She and her sister were sent to Siberia to live with their aunt and uncle through this difficult time.

After World War 2, Lester was stationed in Japan where he was introduced to Fumiko.  They fell in love, and Lester went back to the United States to seek his father’s permission for her hand in marriage.  While saving his money for two years, Lester and Fumiko corresponded by mail daily.  They married at the Embassy on October 1, 1956.

Lester and Fumiko lived all over the world while raising three children.  They settled in the Riverton community where she has lived for the last 42 years.  She was a faithful member of Riverton Holiness Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lester D. Henshaw; her son, Dewayne Henshaw; her grandson, David Duvall; her parents, Goroh & Chiyoko Kubota; and her two brothers.

Surviving family members include her two daughters, Lorna (Ken Hubert) Duvall, and Flora (Michael) Nave; her grandchildren: Daniel (Heather) Duvall, DeAnna (Chris) West, Sarah (Michael) Crawford, Rachael Duvall, Tyler Henshaw, and Tyson (Heather) Henshaw; Her great-grandchildren: Dalton and Noah West, Kendall, Ally, and Emmy Duvall, Jolie McAllister,  Natalie Parson, Briley Henshaw, Tytus and Triton Henshaw.  She is also survived by three sisters, Noriko Onuki, Kinko Kaneku, and Etsuko Serizawa.

The family will receive friends on Monday evening from 5 until 8pm at Hazel Green Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Tuesday at 11am at the funeral home with Bro. William Cantrell and Bro. Shannon Byrd officiating. Burial will follow in Green Valley Cemetery in Big Cove.
Hazel Green Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.