Yoshimi Bednar

Beloved Wife and Mother Yoshimi Sue Bednar Iikubo, age 77, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, July 9, 2008 after a lengthy illness, she was surrounded by her family. A graveside service with Rick Hargrove officiating will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, July 14th in Elmwood Memorial Park, Mausoleum III. Viewing and visitation is from 4 to 6 PM on Sunday at Elmwood Funeral Home, 5750 HWY 277 South.

Born 1931 in Yamanashi-Ken, Kai Prefecture, Japan, she attended schools in Kofu, studied fashion design and became an excellent seamstress. After moving to Hachiogi, she was employed by the USAF at Yokota AFB where she met and married her husband Fred Bednar. Two children, Fred Jr. and Arlena were born in Japan, all arriving in the USA in 1958. A third child, MaryAnn, was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Yoshimis mother, Kikue Iikubo arrived in Wyoming in 1965 and remained with the family until her death in Abilene in 1977.

Yoshimi was employed by Care Inn Nursing Home for eight years while her children were away at school. Having a Green Thumb, she loved her flowers, gardening and was also a talented cook.

Yoshimi and her Mother were descendants of Masakage Yamagata, Samurai General to Shingen, Takeda, Daimyo Warlord to Kai Prefecture. Yamagata was killed during the Battle of Nagashina in 1575 and that event is well written about historically. Family descendants still live in Kofu, Japan where a festival is held yearly in commemoration of this famous battle.

Yoshimi was an outstanding and dedicated Air Force Wife, having been recognized as such by several of her husbands commanders. In 1975, along with her husband, she received a Certificate of Retirement and a Letter of Appreciation for her contribution to both the Air Force and her husbands 26 year military career. Most of all she was a dedicated and loving wife, mother and grandmother who will be terribly missed.

Yoshimi is survived by her husband, Fred C. Bednar; son, Fred S. Bednar of Abilene; daughter, Arlena Thane and husband Rick of Tuscola, daughter, MaryAnn Bednar of Abilene; grand-daughters, Cara Holt and husband Buddy of Abilene and Jennifer Thane of Tuscola; one wonderful great-grandson, Devyn Holt of Abilene; and a sister-in-law, Madeline Eglit and husband Hans of Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Memorial donations are suggested to The Food Bank of Abilene for Gateway Baptist Church, 5505 North 1st St, Abilene, Texas 79603, or Alzheimers Association, 301 S. Pioneer, STE 105, Abilene, Texas 79605.

The family would like to give a special thanks to Gretchen Jones of Hendrick Hospice Care for the expertise and loving care she provided to Yoshimi

Visitation

Elmwood Funeral Home
5750 HWY 277 South
Abilene, TX  79606
Sunday, July 13, 2008
4:00 to 6:00 PM

Service

Graveside Service

Elmwood Memorial Park
5750 HWY 277 South
Abilene, TX  79606
Monday, July 14, 2008
11:00 AM

Cemetery

Elmwood Memorial Park
5750 HWY 277 South
Abilene, TX  79606