Anne Minako Beusch

March 9, 1939 - December 24, 2020

March 9, 1939 – December 24, 2020 Anne Minako Beusch passed away peacefully on December 24, 2020. She was born March 9, 1939 in San Francisco to Minoru and Haruko ( Inuzuka) Ikeda. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister- in- law Joanne Pakel Ikeda, and is survived by Willi, her husband of almost 57 years, her son Michael, brother Roy Ikeda, nieces Mindi and Jenny, and many, many devoted lifelong friends.

Like so many other Americans of Japanese descent, Anne and her family were unjustly and indefensibly incarcerated during World War II – first at Tanforan Racetrack in 1942, then at Topaz Relocation Center in Utah where her brother Roy was born, and then at Tule Lake Incarceration Center in Northern California. The family was finally released in 1946.

After their incarceration, Anne’s family returned to San Francisco, where she attended Morning Star School, Benjamin Franklin Middle School, Lowell High School, and San Francisco State University.

In 1961, Anne relocated to Honolulu, Hawaii where she met her future husband and the love of her life, Willi Beusch. They married in 1963. Six years later, Anne and Willi joyously adopted their son, Michael. They moved back to the Bay Area that same year settling in Millbrae, where Anne was a devoted wife and mother. She cultivated a very wide variety of interests, including books, jazz, cooking, science fiction, movies, classic TV shows, politics, ceramics, and stained glass and sewing— her perfectly crafted and cheerfully designed Christmas decorations being particular favorites.

After 12 years as a housewife, Anne became an English as a Second Language ( ESL) tutor for the Millbrae School District in 1981, working at Millbrae Elementary School, Taylor Intermediate, and finally Meadows Elementary School.

She also tutored Asian students at home. Anne cared deeply about her students and their families, and guided many recent arrivals through their first weeks and months in the United States. Many of her students kept in contact well into adulthood, remembering her patience and kindness.

Anne retired in 1999 and went on to enjoy many happy years of retirement with Willi. Together they traveled all across America, including a New England tour, Michigan, Wisconsin, the Southwest, New Orleans, and a Mississippi River cruise, as well as traveling internationally to Switzerland, Willi’s country of birth, Japan, France, and England.

In 2013, Anne and Willi celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with a joyous celebration that included so many beloved family and friends. In early 2019, Anne and Willi moved to The Magnolia of Millbrae where they spent two very happy years until her passing.

Anne was a feisty, caring, loyal, and devoted person who loved to do things for others. A natural storyteller with an unforgettable laugh, Anne genuinely loved people. She was never afraid to stand up for herself or the people she cared about. She was a wonderful and loving daughter, sister, friend, aunt, mother, and wife, and we will all miss her dearly.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.