Junko Shimizu

Born in the countryside near Nagoya, Japan on 10/2/1934, Junko excelled academically and was a natural born leader. Although not seeking the position, she was appointed to serve as student body president at the Sugiyama Girls High School (Sugiyama Jogakuen Kotogakko), a nationally prestigious girls school located in Nagoya, Japan. She valued education highly and was willing to commute to school from the countryside into the big city by bicycle, bus and street trolley followed by a long walk each day rain or shine, in the bitter cold or stiflingly humid Japanese heat. She loved music and acting and had a beautiful soprano voice. She enjoyed participating in various choirs and acting troops throughout her adolescent and young adult life.
As a young woman in post WWII Japan, she often pondered deep questions about human existence such as “What is the purpose of life?” She found her answers when she met the missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Junko moved to the U.S. in 1959 to further her education. During her time in Los Angeles she was known as Grace Idehara and attended Los Angeles City College before transferring to UCLA where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Geography in 1964. Although she came to the U.S. as an adult she had near native English pronunciation.
Junko married Masaru Tom Shimizu in the Los Angeles, California Temple in 1964 and together, they had 4 children.
She led a life of service devoted to God, family, her community and the many people she came in contact with.
She served the following missions for her church:
– 2-year proselytizing mission in Yokohama and Sapporo, Japan (1957-1959)
– 3 years as Supervisor for the Mission Relief Society, Young Women and Children’s Organizations in the Japan Central Mission during her husband’s tenure as mission president (1971-1974)
– 2 years as Companion to the President of the Japan Missionary Training Center (1996-1998) with a 3-month interlude as Companion to the Interim Mission President in the Sapporo Japan Mission (1996)
– 6 months as Companion to the Interim Mission President in the Nagoya Japan Mission in (1998)
– 18 months as Companion to the Public Affairs Director in Japan (2001-2003)
She also served the women of her church for 10 years as a member of the Relief Society General Board from 1974 to 1984. In addition, she served in many ward and stake callings.
She was active in civics and politics on various boards and committees such as the Women’s State Legislative Council, Japanese American Citizens League, YWCA, Women’s Republican Club, Salt Lake Council of Women, etc. and was a tireless advocate for her husband’s campaigns for Salt Lake County and U.S. Congressional offices.
She was a patriotic American citizen and was especially proud of being co-chair of the Days of ‘47 Parade float “Britain Honors The Constitution” that won first place in the historical float division in 1987.
Her public affairs mission was an exciting and fulfilling time as it coincided with the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. She helped answer questions from the national media outlets about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as questions about Utah in general.
Her general board assignments took her to various places throughout the U.S. and East Asia to train and teach local leaders. One life she touched on her travels was that of a man who approached her after she spoke at a meeting who said that he had struggled to let go of the hate he felt towards the Japanese people for decades since World War II. He said that after he heard her speak, the hate finally left him and he was able to feel at peace.
Junko loved the people she served and served with. She looked forward to reunions and visits when people came in from out of town. Family trips were packed with visits to former mission companions, church members, friends and family including distant relatives as she enjoyed family history work. As part of her genealogical work, she would go beyond just finding data but would search out stories and living descendants in order to deepen and broaden family ties.
Junko is survived by her husband Masaru Tom Shimizu, sons Timothy (Valentina), Scot (Cara), Mark and Joshua, granddaughters Naomi, Elisabeth, Christiana and Sofia, and brothers Hidetoshi (Kieko), Tetsuo (Noriko) and Masatake (Michiko).
A funeral service will be held on Sat., July 23, 2022 at 1:00pm at the Butler Hill Ward Chapel, 2695 E. Ft. Union Blvd, SLC, UT, with a viewing prior to service from 9:00am – 12:30pm. Flowers may be sent to the Chapel prior to 12:00pm on July 23, 2022.
Service Information
Viewing July 23, 2022 at 9:00 AM
2700 East 7000 South Fort Union Blvd





Funeral Service
July 23, 2022 at 1:00 PM
2700 East 7000 South Fort Union Blvd