Tamako Scholten, 85, of Waupun and formerly of Port Washington, died on Monday, Nov. 9, 2009, at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac.

Tamako was born on Sept. 24, 1924, in Saga, Japan, the daughter of Kantaro and Otayuku Noda.

She met her husband, Jerome Scholten, at a U.S. Air Force base in Japan, where she worked as a waitress.

In 1956, she moved to the United States. She married Jerome in October 1956 in Port Washington, Wis. The couple resided in Port Washington all their married life. Jerome preceded her in death in 1985.

Tamako was employed at Smith Brothers Fishery and later at Sprague Electric/Cera-Mite Electric in Grafton. She retired in 1992.

In 1992, she moved to Waupun.

Tamako became an American citizen in the early 1970s, something she was very proud of. She was a very active member of the Windjammers Drum and Bugle Corps Booster Club in Port Washington. In Waupun, she attended the Waupun Senior Center and was a member of the Crochet Club. Tamako was a Christian lady and loved her children and grandchildren. One of her great pastimes was watching professional wrestling on television.

Tamako is survived by five children, Jeffrey (Patti) Scholten of Lakeville, Minn., Anthony Scholten of Newburg, Wis., Mary Ann (Steven) Kirst of Franklin, Wis., Angelo (Kelly) Scholten of Waupun and James Scholten of Sheboygan; a sister, Tyaco (Harry) Reese of Pearl City, Hawaii; and seven grandchildren, Maria, Michael, John, Christopher, Eric, Haley and Hannah.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jerome; and a granddaughter, Angela.