Funeral service for Emiko Yoshida Schmidek will be 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, February 1, 2017 in the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel.

Burial will follow in Post Cemetery, Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Emiko Yoshida Schmidek, age 85, of Lawton passed away Saturday, January 28, 2017 at her daughter's home in Lawton . She was born January 1, 1932 in Otaku, Tokyo, Japan to Hideo Yoshida and Hanae Funao .  Emiko met and eventually married a young military man, Gary Schmidek, in Yokohama, Japan, on October 13, 1955.  She immigrated to the United States to start a new life as a military spouse with only two trunks and four bags of personal belongings.  She supported her husband throughout his distinguished 30-year military career, while raising five children as a homemaker.  Emiko dedicated her life helping others by opening her home to military personnel who were in the process of being relocated.  She also found enjoyment and purpose in volunteering as a teacher's helper at Crosby Park Elementary School.  Emiko spent over 20 years volunteering at the Fort Sill Thrift Shop and made many lifelong friends throughout her time there.  She was also a member of the NCO Wives Club, the Sergeant Major Wives Club, and the Red Hat Ladies organization.  Emiko was creatively artistic and was involved in many activities such as Japanese doll-making, crocheting, sewing, and drawing.  She also enjoyed spending time and laughing with friends while playing bingo, and often felt the staff was part of her extended family.

She is survived by four daughters and one son:  Nancy Prisco of Lawton;  Margaret (Maggie) and James (Bo) Kennard of Lawton;  Joanne and Thom Langan of New Jersey;  Barbara Moore of Austin; and Gary Schmidek and Brenda Kirkham of Lawton;  grandchildren Sherry Montgomery, Allison Prisco-Macias, Jamie Prisco-Rudolph, Rhainey Knight and Shane Kirkham;  great-grandchildren Mason Montgomery and Madelyn Macias; three brothers Mario, Norinaga, and Keisaburo; and two sisters Reiko and Yukiko.

She was preceded in death by her husband, CSM (Ret) Gary Schmidek, sister Nobuko, and son-in-law James Prisco.