Yasuko Wieck

Yasuko Urabe Wieck celebrated her 92nd birthday with her family and closest friends before departing for our Lord. What a beautiful person she was.

Yasuko was born in 1932 to Taro & Hatsue Urabe in Shanghai, China. She was the oldest of four children. The Urabes lived a rich life full of culture to their native Japan. Yasuko was a swimmer on her high school’s swim team. She attained a higher education at Kwassui University, Nagasaki, Japan, and became a teacher of English to young students. She took work at the Airman’s Club in Sasebo, Japan, where she met a handsome young GI. Yasuko Urabe would become Mrs. Lyle Wieck and start her new life on the other side of the Pacific and ultimately take root in D’Iberville, MS. 

Married for over 20 years, Yasuko and Lyle (deceased) had the joy of traveling and bearing five children prior to their divorce. She proudly became a U.S. citizen in October 1971. She worked at K-Mart in D’Iberville, MS as a clerk in the lady’s department where she made and cultivated many new friendships. 

She illuminated herself with class and elegance all because of her caring, loving and fun spirit. Yasuko’s pleasures came from cooking wonderful meals for her family; eating Japanese cuisine while singing and laughing with her many Japanese friends; and dancing, painting and exercising with her friends at the Red Barnett Senior Center. Her delicious cooking and baking had earned her the reputation of being an excellent chef. Her infectious laughter had ignited new friendships. And her dancing gave her bragging rights for achieving the first, second and third places for her team in the senior olympics’ competition (never mind that her team was the only competitor).

Yasuko was a faithful parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, D’Iberville, MS. She always extended loving gestures to her church friends to ensure them of her love. Her retirement wishes were to remain living in her home in D’Iberville and to always be a member of Sacred Heart Church until the very end.

Her surviving children are Michael Wieck (Tina Peltier) of Ocean Springs, MS, Teresa Wieck-Martin (Jeffrey “JR”) of Gulfport, MS and Tina Perkins (Dean) of Biloxi, MS.

Yasuko’s grandchildren are Mitchell Wieck, Travis Wieck (Trisha), Marcus Wieck (Sandy Summer), Jesse Perkins, Justin Perkins and Tyler Wieck. Her great-grandchildren are Luke Cortner, Elijah Wieck and Kai Wieck.

Her family doesn’t stop there, she was also grandmother host to Sony Atmadjaja (Indonesia), Veronica Bovo (Italy), Ina Wilberg (Norway) and Maria Zaragoza Martinez (Spain).

Of her Japanese family, she is survived by her sister-in-law Masako Urabe and numerous nephews and nieces.

Of her U.S. family, she is survived by the descendants of Wilson Lyle and Rose A. Wieck who embraced her as their daughter-in-law and sister-in-law, respectively, when she arrived from Japan so many decades ago. They are Patricia Shoemaker (Burton, deceased), Janet Krohn (Orey), Connie Robbins (Kenny, deceased), Tommy Wieck (Sheila), and Jerry Wieck (Janice).

She was predeceased by her oldest son Ernest and youngest son Mitchell. 

She was predeceased by her sister Etsuko Urabe and brothers Shozo Urabe and Ryoji Urabe.

She was predeceased by Wison Lyle and Rose A. Wieck and their descendants, Joyce O’dell (Lee), Cecila Bakker (John), Shirley Bakker (Robert), Glen Dale Wieck “Butch”, and Louise Carron (Donald).

To know her was to love her and that meant countless young lives calling Yasuko their second mother.

We express special thanks to her caretakers, especially Ms. Shirley McGonagle, Ms. Joann Burdine, Ms. Fredda, Ms. May, Ms. Linda, Ms. Yvonne, Ms. Vicki and Ms. Sue.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, Biloxi, MS, is overseeing the funeral services. The wake will be held Thursday, September 5, 2024, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. with a recitation of the Rosary at 7 p.m. at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home. The Funeral Mass is at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Friday, September 6, 2024 at 11 a.m. with viewing at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Biloxi City Cemetery. A reception (location to be determined) will follow graveside service.