Obituaries for Wednesday, June 21, 2017
• Jill Yadao Pope • Martha Sialana Kruse • Richard Lee Kopps • Mildred Maihiokalani DeBusca ‘Mili’ Pereira • Paul McDonald • Jose Balbin Gray • Claradeen (Dennie) Momilani Fu-McDermott • Thomas ‘Toki’ Tokio Koga • Kawaiola Mawae Yasay • Karen Lee Klock
Jill Yadao Pope
Jill Yadao Pope, 33, of Tallahassee, Florida, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident, leaving behind her husband and four children.
She was born on July 2, 1983, to Raymondo Yadao and Jane Wirtzburger Yadao in Lihue. Following the death of her father in 1996 and her mother in 1998, she was raised by her Aunt Chris (Christine “Tutu” Wirtzburger Brune) in Daytona Beach, Florida. She graduated from Atlantic High School in Port Orange, Florida in 2001, and from Florida State University in Tallahassee in 2005, with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. After marrying Bert Pope in May 2006, she worked as a teacher at Holy Comforter Episcopal School until the birth of their first child in 2007.
A passionate volunteer and children’s advocate, she was a past president of the Junior League of Tallahassee and also served on the boards of Tree House and Lee’s Place.
She is survived by husband Bert Pope, children Kent (10), Lilly (8), Banks (6) and Blair (5), brother Raymond Yadao and his wife Janet of Kona, Hawaii, sister Rae Ann Yadao-Butac and her husband Phil, sister Lianne Yadao and James Ailsna, brother Rollan Yadao and his wife Celina of Kilauea, aunt Frances Yadao Bilog and her husband Mo of Huntington Beach, California, aunt Josephine Asuncion, uncle Juny Yadao and his wife Theresa, all of Kilauea, aunt Christine “Tutu” Wirtzburger Brune, aunt Judy Wirtzburger Lincoln and her husband Gary Lincoln of South Daytona, Florida, father and mother-in-law Melvin Jr. and Kathie Pope, brother-in-law Mel Pope III and “sister-in-love” Natascha Becker of Tallahassee, Florida, brother-in-law Bruce Pope, his wife Nancy of Columbia, South Caroliona, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 8, at St. Sylvester Church in Kilauea, with visitation from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and Mass celebrated at 11 a.m. The family requests that her life be celebrated with Aloha. Please wear casual Hawaiian attire to the service.
Martha Sialana Kruse
Martha Sialana Kruse, 97, of Kekaha, passed away on June 2, 2017, surrounded by her beloved ohana. She was born on Jan. 18, 1920, in San Fernando, Cebu, Philippines.
She immigrated to Hawaii in 1922, attended Kekaha School and Waimea High School, where she met the love of her life, George Arthur Kruse. They were married in 1939 and were very active with St. Theresa Parish activities as well as the Kekaha Community Association. She received numerous awards and recognitions for her services to the public.
She was preceded in death by her husband George Arthur Kruse, parents Victoriano and Vicenta Sialana, brothers Jose Sialana and Patricio Sialana, daughter Rosemary Peters, son-in-law Stanley Leaf, and grandchildren Brian Kruse, Marissa Dela Cruz and Lokelani Kruse.
She is survived by George “Kalani” (Judy) Kruse Jr. of Arizona, son-in-law Raymond Peters Jr of Kekaha, Bernadette Leaf of California, Theodora “Teddie” (Clayton) Dela Cruz of Waimea, Joseph “Jocko” Kruse of Makakilo, Anthony (Esme) Kruse of Texas, Peter (Wendy) Kruse of Eleele, Ann (Steven) Duarte of Waimea and Malia (David) Fu of Kekaha, hanai daughter Trudy Hegwood of Waimea, 23 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 24, at St. Theresa Church in Kekaha. Viewing and visitation with the family will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. with Mass to follow. A private inurnment will be held at a later date. The family requests aloha attire.
Arrangements are being handled by Garden Island Mortuary.
Richard Lee Kopps
It is with great sadness that the family of Richard Lee “Dick” Kopps announces his passing on Sunday, June 4, 2017, at the age of 93. He was born in Griggsville, Illinois June 29, 1923. He was a long-time resident of Kapaa, retiring to the island after he left the Navy in 1974 as a captain. He then embarked on a second career as a surveyor and project manager on Kauai.
His distinguished naval career spanned from WWII to Vietnam. Among his many awards were the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal.
He joined the military in 1942 and was trained as a naval aviator, flying B-24 “Liberator” bombers in the Pacific Theater in WWll and ending his naval flying career as squadron commander of carrier (ship) based A-3D heavy attack jet aircraft. He remained active in aviation, flying his personal plane into his 80s. He often told the story that he discovered a love of flight when he was 13 years old after being given a ride in a barnstormer’s plane.
He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Dixie Laurel Kopps. He is survived by children Richard, Signe, Bradford and Jason, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Mildred Maihiokalani DeBusca ‘Mili’ Pereira
Mildred Maihiokalani DeBusca “Mili” Pereira, 87, of Kapaa, died at Crystal Cove Rehabilitation Center in Newport Beach, California, on April 25, 2017.
Born in Niumalu on May 2, 1929, she was a retired employee of Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California, and Wilcox Memoprial Hospital in Lihue.
She was preceded in death by husband Adam G. Pereira, daughter Debra L. Pereira Morse, parents Mariano Pacis DeBusca and Annie Adolpho Andrade, brothers Anthony Martin, Joseph Martin, and sisters Julia Dixon, Jean Oneha and Jane Ching.
She is survived by daughter Annie L. Makaena (Charles) Morgan of Santa Ana, California, son Patrick Kaheaokalani (Paulette) Pereira of Tucson, Arizona, brother Mariano “Kahea” DeBusca of Aiea, Oahu, sister Anita A.L. Andrade (Dennis) Aquino of Lihue, five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Memorial services were held on May 6, 2017, at Newport Beach, California.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 1, at the Kapaa chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) at 4561 Ohia St., Kapaa. Visitation will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m., with services at 10:45 a.m. Inurnment will be private.
Paul McDonald
Paul McDonald, 70, passed away at his Kauai residence on May 28, 2017.
He is survived by his wife, Diane, and daughter, Elise, both of Princeville, and his mother, Peggy, of Massena, New York.
He was born in Florida and raised in upstate New York. He met Diane in Maryland in 1980 and the two of them worked their way from the East Coast to the west, eventually moving to Kauai in 1995 where they were blessed with the birth of their daughter in 1997.
He was a retired executive with Marriott International and had been, most recently, employed as the executive director of the Kauai Housing Development Corporation Inc.
He will be deeply missed by his family and by many caring friends, particularly Cheri Threlkeld and her daughter Emily.
Jose Balbin Gray
Jose Balbin Gray of Hanamaulu peacefully passed away on May 7, 2017, at the age of 82. He was born in Candon, Ilocos Sur, Philippines, on May 17, 1934, and retired from Lihue Plantation as a heavy roller driver.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Jennifer Gray, sister Herminigilda (Melchor) Lagmay, and brothers Ernesto Gray and Marcial (Francisca) Gray.
He is survived by his wife Virginia Gray, sons James (Gina) Gray of Oregon and Jeremy (Kim) Gray of Maui, grandchildren Kristin, Justin-Joe, Mitchell and Trevor, sister-in-law Gloria Gray, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services will be held on June 24, at Immaculate Conception Church, with viewing from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and Mass celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will be at a later date.
Kauai Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home assisted the Gray family with arrangements.
Claradeen (Deenie) Momilani Fu-McDermott
Claradeen (Deenie) Momilani Fu-McDermott of Kapaa passed away on June 8, 2017, at the age of 60.
She was born in Wailua on Sept. 2, 1956.
She was preceded in death by her parents Edwin Sr. and Clara Fu, sister Charleen Fu Kinney and brother Wendall Fu.
Deenie is survived by her brother Edwin Fu Jr., sisters Edleen Kaui, Helena Gittner and Marleen (Greg) Fu-Goodwin, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date in Waipa.
Kauai Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home assisted the Fu-McDermott family with arrangements.
Thomas ‘Toki’ Tokio Koga
Thomas “Toki” Tokio Koga, 86, of Lawai, passed away on June 14, 2017, at his home.
He was born on January 27, 1931, in Kukuiula, and was a retired electrician with the County of Kauai.
He was preceded in death by his son Eric Koga, parents Komezo and Keyo Koga, brothers Kazuyoshi Kawahara, Masaru Koga and Tatsuo Koga, and sisters Kiyoko Shimokawa and Doris Uyeda.
He is survived by his wife Nancy Koga, sons Warren (Lisa) Koga, Milton (Wendy) Koga and Craig (Lori) Koga, daughter Doreen (Mervyn) Masumura, daughter-in-law Alison Koga, brother Henry (Ginger) Koga, sisters Yoshiko Okiura and Helen Oyama, 13 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousinsc
Friends may visit with the family on Saturday, June 24, at Garden Island Mortuary from 2:30 p.m. Services will be celebrated there at 4 p.m.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Kawaiola Mawae Yasay
Kawaiola Mawae Yasay passed away on June 8, 2017, at the age of 28. She was born in Waimea on Oct. 17, 1988.
She was preceded in death by father Roy Yasay and brother Kapena Bridges.
She is survived by sisters Desiree Yasay of Waimea and Kelsey Bridges of Kalaheo, brothers Joey Licayan of Kekaha and Travis Mawae of Wisconsin, mother Lei Mawae-Schiller of Wisconsin, nephews Kapena Perreira of Kalaheo and Kaikona Girod of Kekaha, nieces Kale‘a Yasay of Waimea and Mahina Girod of Kekaha, and numerous cousins, aunties and uncles.
Remembrance services will be held on Sunday, June 25, at West Side Enterprise Center (Kekaha Hawaiian Homes Center), 7694 Ulili Rd., with viewing at 11 a.m. and service to start promptly at noon. The family suggests aloha attire and welcomes flowers.
Karen Lee Klock
Karen Lee Klock, 67, passed away on June 13, 2017, at Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital.
Born on Nov. 27, 1947, in California, She worked as a business administrator for several small businesses.
She was preceded in death by her parents Gerald and Patricia Krimian, and brother Craig Krimian.
She is survived by son Joshua Klock of Hawaii, daughters Janice Lyn (John) Hurley of California and Karrie Elizabeth (Shannon Halweg) Severance of California, sister Connie Hubbard of California, grandchildren Gerald Peter Arroyo, James Deran Elliott, Madeyn Elizabeth Elliott and Karter Klock, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Private services will be held.
Garden Island Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
