Aiko Sakuma Harris Pennington 12/10/1931 - 1/29/2024

Aiko Sakuma Harris Pennington passed away peacefully on January 29, 2024, surrounded by family. Aiko was born in Yamanashi, Japan to Yasusada and Ito Sakuma on December 10, 1931. She had one older brother, Sukeo. After graduating from high school Aiko, worked for an American family stationed in Japan. She met her soon to be husband, Harry Harris, an American GI, stationed in Japan during the Korean War. Harry and Aiko married on 11/9/53 in Japan. Aiko left her homeland and moved to Napa, CA, with her new husband eventually settling in Colfax, CA. Aiko was a full-time mom with six children. She was an exceptional homemaker. She learned to can, bake and cook American food; she also was a seamstress. She was a cub scout den mother, avid baker for community bake sales, and events, active in Rebeka Lodge, Grange and Jazzercise. Aiko became a CNA working at Weimar Medical Center and later at Hilltop Manor Convalescent. They were married for 30 years and raised six children before Harry passed away in 1984. Aiko met Bob Pennington while he was visiting a friend in Colfax and broke his leg and had to stay until he recuperated. That chance meeting led to a long and wonderful marriage. Bob and Aiko were married in Colfax on 02/25/86 and moved to Hawaii in 1989. They had a house built but there was no public electricity available, so they rigged batteries to run their home. They met many wonderful people and were very active in the senior community. Aiko learned to hula dance, play the ukulele (a little), and play "hand and foot" with their weekly card playing friends. She was an avid gardener and made their home a beautiful oasis. Seven years after Bob passed away in 2012, Aiko moved back to the mainland to Lancaster, CA to be near family. She lived in her own apartment and walked two miles a day as long as she was able. She lived a long and full life passing away at the age of 92. She loved everyone and was dearly loved by all who knew her. Aiko was preceded in death by her first husband, Harry and her second husband, Bob and her son, John. She is survived by her sons and daughters: Harry Harris, Jr., Charlie Harris, Jim Harris and wife Lisa, Cherie Carter and husband David, Annette Brown, Deanna Pennington and husband Curtis, and 24 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren. There will be a celebration of life at the Veteran's Memorial Hall in Colfax on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 4:00pm.