Toshiko "Toshy" Hillebrand, 92, of Warrensburg, Missouri, passed away on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at NorthCare Hospice House in North Kansas City.

Born June 26, 1933, in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, Toshy's life journey carried her across the world. On a blind date, she met Francis R. Hillebrand, who was serving in the U.S. military at the time. They were married on September 22, 1958, at the American Embassy in Tokyo. Leaving her family behind in Japan, she embraced a new life as an American, moving with Francis and their growing family to several states and countries. In 1973, after Francis was transferred to Whiteman Air Force Base, they made Warrensburg their permanent home.

Toshy was a woman of many talents and passions. She expressed her creativity through her love of crafting, cooking and sewing and was an avid reader in both Japanese and English.  Toshy participated in a variety of clubs throughout her life: square dancing, bowling, pinochle, motorcycling, and camping with the Truman Lake Ramblers. As a music lover, she delighted in live stage shows and singing karaoke, and held a lifelong admiration for Yamaha pianos and classical music - a passion first sparked in her youth while working at the piano factory in Japan. She enjoyed watching sumo wrestling and samurai dramas.  Her love of food reflected her blended life; she relished Japanese and Chinese cuisine as much as she enjoyed grilled steaks, barbecue, chicken wings, pizza, and especially vanilla ice cream. Above all, Toshy cherished her family.

She is survived by her husband, Francis; her son, Joseph Hillebrand; her daughter, Karen Hillebrand (life partner, Kenneth Wolf); her granddaughter, Jessica Hillebrand; her daughter-in-law, Virginia Hillebrand; and Virginia's daughter, Tamara Miller. She was preceded in death by her parents, her older sister, and two younger brothers.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, September 5, at Williams Funeral Chapel in Warrensburg, followed by interment at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville.

Online condolences may be shared at www.williamsfuneralchapel.net.