Carolyn Mae Matsutani, age 63, passed away peacefully on February 12, 2021 in Kapolei, Hawaii while awaiting a liver transplant.
Carolyn, the youngest of four children, was born on August 12, 1957 in North Platte, Nebraska to Ruth Nakagawa Matsutani and Masaharu Matsutani. She grew up on a dairy farm in Hershey, Nebraska and graduated from Hershey High School in 1975. While growing up in Hershey, she was active in 4.H throughout junior high and high school.
Carolyn loved to cook and sew like her mother and her Aunt Taki, and she was the first Nebraska Japanese-American to win the Nebraska "Make it With Wool" contest and go on to compete in this category nationally.
She later attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and graduated with a degree in fashion merchandising in 1979. After graduation from college, Carolyn worked at JL Brandeis and Younkers as a fashion merchandiser. She later worked for Galyan's in Indiana in the HR Department. Since 2005, Carolyn worked in Hawaii as the HR Director for the YMCA of Honolulu.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ruth & Masa Matsutani; her grandparents; and several aunts and uncles.
Carolyn leaves behind her sisters, Barbara Spettel & husband Tom of Henderson, Colorado and Norma Romero of North Platte, Nebraska; brother, Kent Matsutani & wife Mary of Fort Collins, Colorado; nieces Genny McNeel, Rebecca Romero, and Jocelyn Matsutani; nephew, John Matsutani; aunt, Helen Budzinski of Seattle, Washington; and many cousins and friends.
A Memorial Service was held in Hawaii.
Oahu Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
An interment service will be held at the Episcopal Church in North Platte, Nebraska on Friday, July 2, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., followed by a noon luncheon.