Yoshiko was very talented in knitting, crocheting, sewing, and making her own clothing. In her younger years, she was a model and enjoyed playing tennis. Always having an eye for fashion, she worked at JCPenney for 20 years and would oversee picking the latest trends. Yoshiko was a go getter who had a strong personality and a strong work ethic, which she instilled in her children. She loved to play many instruments and favored the guitar and accordion. Yoshiko loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren very much.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Oral “Pete” Johnson, whom she married on August 15, 1956; her parents, Hirokichi (Kowata) and Hatsue Konno; two sons in infancy, Donald Gene and Thomas J. Johnson; a daughter, Judy Radick; a grandson, Alex Panone; and four sibilings, Tsuruyo Kowata, Tsuneo Konno, Mitsu Konno, and Sakai Konno.
Surviving are her three daughters, Barbara (Howard) Crocker, Donna (Keith Meagher) Keim-Meagher,
and Brenda (Bernard) Panone;
six grandchildren, Jennifer (Nate) Smith, Nicole (Curtis) Martindale,
Nicholas (Natalie) Keim, Jeanine (Aaron) Roy, Kimberly (Jacob) Holmes,
and Curtis Radick;
seven great-gradchildren, Curtis John “C.J.” Martindale, Kayla Martindale, Reno Keim,
Colton Smith, Knox Smith, Hudson Bauman,
and Nora Bosomworth;
two sons-in-law, Daniel Radick and Jeffrey Keim;
and many nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, December 30, 2022, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: Funeral procession will leave at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, December 31, 2022, from George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, for a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Teresa Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Fr. Michael Arockiam officiating.
Burial will be held at Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, IL.