Toshi Miagawa Asano Gilbert

Toshi lived a long and interesting life. She overcame many obstacles during her life. Toshi was orphaned at the age of four and was raised by her grandmother, and extended family. She survived WWII in the Osaka, Japan bomb shelters with a new born baby. When she arrived in America in 1953 as a GI war bride, she did not speak, read or write much English. Toshi did not shy away from tough tasks. She would always say “guts & determination.” She learned to use and balance a checkbook, she learned to drive at the age of 42 and she passed her U.S. citizenship test. If she needed something she would either make it or engineer a solution before buying something expensive. She was very creative and enjoyed crocheting, knitting, gardening, rosemaling and painting landscapes of familiar Marquette locations.

Toshi was born of Japanese parents on February 3, 1922 in Tainan, Formosa (now known as Taiwan). She was born at the time of the Lunar New Year, which the Japanese call koshi-toshi, meaning “jumping the year.” Her mother, Ume thought Koshi-Toshi was too long for a name so they settled on Toshi. She was orphaned at the early age of four and was raised by her grandmother, two aunts and an uncle. In the 1920’s and 30’s her family moved back and forth from Formosa and southern China making their fortunes.

While they were living in Canton, China Toshi met a young cavalry officer, Yoshio Asano. She said she would often see him riding by as she walked along the road. Finally she decided to say “hello” because she thought he was cute. They were married and soon after a daughter, Fumiko, was born. In the early 1940’s, tensions that led to WWII were stirring and the Japanese were forced out of China and Formosa. Toshi’s family fled to mainland Japan and Yuji was born in Osaka in 1944 when Toshi was 22 years old. Toshi and Yuji survived WWII, but her husband and daughter were lost.

The years after the war were very difficult for a single mother, but with guts and determination Toshi and Yuji survived. In 1950 the Korean Conflict began so Toshi and Yuji moved to the southern Japan island of Kyushu where the American base was being built. Toshi opened a restaurant with a limited menu that catered to American G.I.s. In 1952 she met Charles (Charlie) Henry Gilbert. They were married and a son, John Henry was born by midwife. As the war was ending, Charles petitioned the US government to bring his wife, son and step-son with him when he received orders to return to the US. Other GIs were not so lucky, but Charlie received permission to bring his new family with him on his return to the O’Hare Air Station near Chicago, IL. Daughters, Joy and Charlene were born in Oak Park, IL.

In 1960, Strategic Air Command (SAC) K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base (AFB) opened and the Gilbert family arrived by train from Chicago to their new home. In 1964, Toshi and her family moved to nearby Marquette, when Charlie received orders for a remote duty assignment in Greenland. Singlehandedly, Toshi raised four children on a GI’s salary. She sewed Spring, Fall and Summer outfits for both girls every year, learned to drive at the age of 42 so she could make the trip back and forth to the Base every two weeks to shop at the commissary, paid all of the bills on time and made time to study and pass her citizenship test. In 1971 she purchased her own home and was hired by the university as a custodian, but her goal was to be a cook in the kitchen. After a few years, she met that goal. At times it was hard work, but she enjoyed being in food service and the friends she made while working there. She also enjoyed many years of retirement and was able to travel to California, Texas, Wisconsin and Ann Arbor, MI to visit family and to Japan (three times), as well as Europe. Toshi was fortunate to be able to drive until the age of 85 and live in her own home until her early nineties. In 2014, she moved to Green Bay, WI to be closer to family. Friends and family, including their pets visited Toshi many times over the seven years she lived at the Care for All Ages residence.

Toshi is survived by her sons Yuji (Marlene) Asano of Green Bay, WI, John (Gretchen) of Saline, MI, and daughter Charlene (Edward) of Seabrook, TX, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughters, Fumiko and Joy.

A celebration of Toshi’s life will be held July 24, 2022 beginning at 4:00pm at the Presque Isle Pavilion. Please join us to share your favorite memory of Toshi. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in her memory to Michigan Special Olympics.