Ikuko "Bonnie" Reising

Ikuko “Bonnie” Reising, 88, died Friday, December 6, 2019, at her home near Corydon.  She was born June 24, 1931 in Kurume City, Japan to the late Yasuke and Harue Kawahara Yamanaka. 

Coming of age in post World War II Japan, she graduated from high school and attended a dressmaker school.  Bonnie began working at Itazuke Air Base in Fukuoka-ken as a seamstress.

She chose “Bonnie” as her English name to make it easier for Americans to pronounce.  She started working at Camp Wood Army Base in Kumamoto and met Army Sgt. First Class Louis Michael Reising, whom she married.  They lived the army life for more than 20 years.  Her three children were born in three different places:  Sendai, Japan, Ft. Riley, Kansas and Heidelberg, Germany.

In 1967, the family moved to her husband’s hometown of Corydon.  For almost 3 years, Bonnie was a single mother of her three children while her husband served in the Vietnam War.  She and the children attended St. Joseph Church and became acclimated to civilian life.  Bonnie continued to use her sewing skills making many beautiful quilts and joined in quilting bees.  She participated in many church functions throughout the years and was also a long standing member of the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary.  In 1975, Bonnie began working part-time at Hickman’s Flower Shop.  After 35 years of making beautiful arrangements and delivering them all over town, she retired to dedicate full time to the care of her husband.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Louis Michael Reising; her son, Frank A. Reising; her granddaughter, Marie A. Cagle; her brothers, Toshizo, Yashiro, Sabaro and Shigeru; and her two sisters, Mitoko and Shigeko.

Survivors include her daughters, Linda Watanabe (Alan) and Joan Touchette (Albert); her daughter-in-law, Shirley Slucher Reising; her grandchildren, Adam Reising, Louis Touchette, Willie Watanabe and Keenan Hale; and her great grandchild, Logan Cagle.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 11, 2019, at Beanblossom-Cesar Funeral Home in Corydon.  Pastor Donnie Whitlow will officiate.  Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Corydon.

Visitation will be from 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday and after 9:00 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Adam Reising, Louis Touchette, Gerald Lowe, Wyatt Dayvault, Pete Hardsaw, Donald Ingle and Lawrence Ingle.   

The family requests that expressions of sympathy be made to Hosparus Southern Indiana, 502 Hausfeldt Lane, New Albany, Indiana 47150.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ikuko "Bonnie" Reising, please visit our floral store.