Debra L. Kumbalek

On April 13, 2026, Debra (“Debbie”) Kumbalek, 70, of Houston, Texas unexpectedly passed away at Houston Methodist Hospital with her loving husband of 25 years by her side. Even though she will be greatly missed by family and friends, her flame will shine brightly in her eternal life, and her love for each of us will live on in our memories and our hearts.

Debbie was born on September 30, 1955, the eldest of seven children, to Carl and Bernice (Huisenfeldt) Kumbalek in Sheboygan, WI. She graduated from Howards Grove High School in 1973. She attended Patricia Stevens College in Milwaukee, and then graduated from Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland, WI with a degree in accounting.

Seeking opportunity and adventure, Debbie moved to Houston, Texas in 1976. She continued her higher education and earned her CPA license while working as a corporate accountant. She handled many diverse financial responsibilities for such companies as L’Elite, James Furlan Furs and Chelsea Architects. She also worked for many other individual clients throughout her career.

Debbie was very active in Pilates, tennis, running and other physical activities. She met her husband, Satoshi (“Toshi”) Mochizuki, at a tennis club in Houston and married him on August 10, 2001, on the scenic mountains in Lake Louise, Canada. Their love for tennis, travel, cooking, their dogs, and their Galveston Mardi Gras Krewe filled their lives. Family was always important to Debbie and she enjoyed spending time with her sisters, brother, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and extended family. She looked forward to her travels with family members and attending family reunions, where she had fun pulling practical jokes on unsuspecting nieces and nephews in their younger years.

Friends were also very important to Debbie, and she and Toshi enjoyed entertaining and hosting family and friends at their homes on Galveston Island and in Houston. She loved watching her Green Bay Packers games, reading World War II novels, playing games, and enjoying the outdoors. Those who knew Debbie will remember her adventuresome side, as well as her fun-loving, caring, and welcoming way and how she valued and was deeply rooted in family and friends.

Debbie leaves behind her husband, her five sisters: Brenda Rappeport (Scott) of Sunapee, NH; Lisa Kumbalek of Houston, TX; Donna MacNeil (Bill) of Torrance, CA; Wanda Cross (Jon) of Moline, IL; Carla Kumbalek of Sheboygan, WI and one brother: Scott Kumbalek of Portland, Oregon; two Sisters-in-Law: Shigeko Yamanda of Japan; Mariko Goto (Marikos) of Japan; Stepmother: Marlene Kumbalek of Sheboygan Falls, WI, as well as four nieces, five nephews, four grand-nephews, and her two beloved dogs (Kenji and Kodi).

Debbie was preceded in death by her mother and father, mother-in-law and father-in-law, brother-in-law, and a number of wonderful aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Visitation for Debbie will be held on Friday, April 24, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Zimmer Westview Funeral Home (www.zimmerfuneralhome.com), W2132 Garton Rd., Sheboygan, WI 53083. A Catholic Mass will be held for Debbie on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, 319 Giddings Avenue, Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085, with visitation at 9:00 a.m. before mass. Debbie will be laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Debbie’s name to St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, TX 77079 or Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1302 Broadway Avenue J, Galveston, TX 77550.