Alma Lina Luise Agnes Kokubun, age 98, passed away peacefully following a short illness on Sunday, September 19, 2021.She was born in Heidelberg, Germany on June 16th, 1923, the only daughter of Agnes and Friedrick Ihrig.
Alma met her first husband, Walter Heinz, and moved to Vienna, Austria, where his family lived, and worked as a teletype operator. The couple had a daughter; but sadly the war caused Alma to become a widow at age 19.
Following World War II she got another chance at love when she met and married Walter Kokubun and followed him to Hawaii. Their military assignments also took them to Kwajalein Islands, and Europe; They had three children during that time. Alma retired from the American Armed Forces Exchange System and moved to Cambridge, OH in 1985.
Besides her family, Mom's church families (Christ Lutheran, Cambridge, and Joy of Christ Lutheran, Pearl City, Hawaii) were the most important. She served on the Board of Feed My People as well as various ladies groups; and traveled around the country to attend numerous workshops, retreats, and church conferences.
Alma was an avid reader, enjoyed swimming, crocheting and dancing; but most of all she loved to travel. When she wasn't on a trip to see family in Germany/Austria, or Hawaii, she volunteered in the local hospital gift shop and accumulated more than 5,138 in volunteer hours over the course of 28 years. Mom developed a passion for playing bingo during her days as a military wife; so it was no surprise she could always be found at the Senior Citizen's Center playing bingo. And of course taking advantage of the trips that the Senior Center offered.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her three brothers Wilhelm Ihrig, Friedrick Ihrig, Kurt Schreck, and her dear cousin Hans Schreck. Her so endeared son-in-law Lowell Thomas also passed away just a few days following her.
Those left to cherish Alma's memory are children Dagmar (De) Thomas, Cambridge, OH., Sheila Miraflor, Olympia, WA, Mike (Donna) Kokubun, Ocean Springs, MS, and Colleen (Steve) Kokubun, Herford, AZ; and her special nephews Wolfgang (Maria) Ihrig, Forst, Germany, and Ralf (Nadia) Schreck, Eppelheim, Germany, Raymond (Karen) Kokubun, Paia, Maui, and Cheryl (Lance) Gusukuma, Sahuarita, AZ.
The list certainly also includes her dear friends Kathy Sullivan, Marian Welsh, and Betty Dash; plus numerous grands, great grands, great great grands, nieces and nephews too numerous to mention by name, in both the US and Germany. Mom loved to say "You wouldn't be here if it wasn' for me; I started all this". She was so proud of them.
Cremation was observed by Bundy-Law Funeral Home, and Mom's ashes will be scattered according to her wishes. The family will be hosting a CELEBRATION OF LIFE at Christ Lutheran Church, Cambridge, Oh. On March 19, 2022 at 1:00p.m. Please join us in sharing stories or a fond memory about Mom, and view some of her memorabilia.