Toyoko M Westmark

Toyoko “Miki” Westmark, 96, of Dyersville passed away Tuesday, December 20, 2022, at MercyOne Senior Care in Dyersville.

Visitation will be held from 9 – 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to commence at 10:30 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Basilica, with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Gabriel Mensah will officiate.

Miki was born on August 7, 1926, in Sendai, Japan, the daughter of Kenjiro and Misao Hyodo. She married Paul Westmark on November 14, 1968, at the American Embassy in Tokyo, Japan. After their return to the USA, Miki obtained her American citizenship in 1992, in Denver, CO, and was baptized in 1997, at the Basilica by Rev. Edward Petty.

While in Japan, Miki worked at the military base where she met Paul. Together they traveled to many countries through the military and eventually moved to Aurora, CO where Miki worked at a middle school cafeteria which she loved. In addition to working in the cafeteria, she worked at a nursing home. When her husband, Paul needed care, she was a wonderful caregiver for over 20 years. Miki was a skilled seamstress and an excellent cook, especially Japanese cuisine (her rice stuffing was a favorite of many).

Survivors include her nephews, Takayoshi (Eiko) Hyodo and Yoshinori Horie of Japan; nieces and nephews: Paul (Cathy) Bockenstedt of Eden Prairie, MN, Ann (Andy) Rettenmeier of Dubuque, Julia Westmark, Theodore (Alicia) Westmark and their daughter, Iris; great nieces and nephews: Lara Bockenstedt, Daniel Bockenstedt, James and Peter Rettenmeier, sister-in-law, Mary Bockenstedt, a cousin, Judy Henke of Dyersville, and special friends, Don & Dianne Kramer.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Paul in 2014; two sisters from Japan; a nephew, Daniel Bockenstedt; in-laws: Fred Westmark, Helen Westmark, and Walter Bockenstedt.

A special thank you to the staff of Ellen Kennedy Living Center and MercyOne Senior Care, where she was under the compassionate caretakers of Hospice of Dubuque.