Masako “Donna” Landolt

Masako “Donna” Landolt, age 92, passed away Friday, April 5, 2024 in Kaufman, Texas.

Mrs. Landolt was born on December 12, 1931 in Moseushi, Hokkaido, Japan, the daughter of the late Tsunayoshi and Toshie Sakurada. She married Richard Joseph Landolt in 1952 and was a career Air Force wife.

During her 22 years as an Air Force wife, Mrs. Landolt lived in Japan, Florida, Taiwan and North Dakota. She served as a volunteer in the Air Force Family Services Organization, taught English as a Second Language and served in Baptist churches wherever they were stationed.

Mr. Landolt retired from the Air Force in 1972 and the family moved to Savannah where Mrs. Landolt’s life revolved around her home and her faith. She shared the gift of hospitality, opening her home to many. In their teen years and beyond, her children and their friends knew they could always drop by and find plenty of food on the table.

Mrs. Landolt’s passion was serving the Lord through the local church. She regularly taught Sunday School, Church Training, Vacation Bible School and even served as youth minister at Cresthill Baptist Church. Mrs. Landolt often participated in the work of the Savannah Baptist Association and the Baptist Center under the leadership of Brother Beam and Miss Pat. For several years Mrs. Landolt was a Red Cross interpreter, most often for Japanese seamen who were hospitalized in Savannah. In 1993 Masako joined together with Dusty and Audrey Reynolds and a small cohort of friends to begin Sycamore Church where she served until moving to Texas in 2020.

Mrs. Landolt’s interests included studying the Bible and reading the works of numerous theologians and preachers. She enjoyed sewing, trying new recipes, cooking meals to take to those who were ill, balancing her checkbook and watching birds from her kitchen table.

Mrs. Landolt was preceded in death by her loving husband of 39 years, Richard Joseph Landolt, her brothers, Naoyuki Sakurada, Ko Sakurada and daughter-in-law, Lecia Landolt. She is survived by her children, Richard Landolt, Jr. (Kathy), Kathryn Owen (Rick), Craig Landolt (Cindy), and James Landolt (Filly); sister, Yuko Tachibana; grandchildren, Trey Landolt, Garrett Owen, Claire Pablo (Lorenzo), Ethan Landolt (Christina), Aaron Landolt, Toshie Landolt, James Landolt (Shelby), Joseph Landolt, Katie Proctor (Thad) and Jim Strack; great-grandchildren, Thomas Pablo, Sofia Pablo, Noah Pablo, Astrid Landolt, Riley Landolt, Alaynah Jackson, Jesse Proctor, Brooks Proctor and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 7:00 p.m., Monday, May 20, 2024 at Sycamore Church, 2031 Grove Point Road, Savannah, GA 31419. The family will be receiving friends at the church from 5:30 p.m. until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Samaritan’s Purse or Sycamore Church.