WILMINGTON, Ill. — Mrs. Miyoko K. "Mickey" Begler, 82, of Wilmington, Ill., passed away Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, at Morris Hospital.
Born March 31, 1930, in Japan, Miyoko was a daughter of Kikuzo and Uta Kasuya. She was raised and educated in Japan, where she was also a province track star in her youth.
Mickey married Charles William Begler on June 14, 1956, in Tokyo. He preceded her in death on Feb. 16, 2001.
Mickey was an accomplished seamstress and worked out of her home prior to gaining employment with DeMertand Dougherty in Coal City, from where she retired in 1996 after 24 years of service.
When her children were young, Mickey was a Den Leader for both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. She also remained active throughout the years cooking for the Lions Club, VFW and Moose Lodge.
Mickey greatly enjoyed playing bingo, bowling, playing cards, knitting and crocheting. She was a tremendous Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears and Wilmington Bobcat and Wildcat fan.
Mickey cherished her grandchildren and will be remembered for her Japanese cuisine, beautiful flower gardens and for being a mother to all who knew her.
Survivors include three sons, Chuck (Brenda) Begler, Tom (Ellen) Begler and Mike (Debbie) Begler, all of Wilmington; five grandchildren, Christy Begler (fiancé, Jeff Kircher) and Jason Begler of Wilmington, Samantha (Victor) Salinas of Morris, Damian Begler of Wilmington and Krystal (Jimmy) Glidic of Plainfield, Ill.; seven great-grandchildren, Nickolas, Nathan, Breanna, Trey, Alexa, Mason and Aiden; nieces and nephews, Deb (Paul) Vote of Wilmington, David (Betty) Dermott of Urbana, Larry (Reynalda) Christopher of South Carolina and David (Beverly) Christopher of Tennessee; as well as numerous additional nieces, nephews and cousins in Japan.
Mickey was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles; grandchildren, C.J. Begler, Alicia Begler and Thomas Begler, Jr.; sister, Fujiko (Norman) Christopher; sister-in-law, Shirley Allott; and mothers and fathers-in-law, Simon and Mary Cinotto and Charles and Jesse Begler.
The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, until the time of memorial service at noon at Freitag-Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler in Wilmington. Deacon Don Dyer will officiate.
A family inurnment will take place at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood at a later date.
Preferred memorials in lieu of flowers may be made as gifts in Mickey's memory to the C.J. Begler Scholarship Fund, c/o the Wilmington School District 209-UFoundation for Excellence, 209 Wildcat Court, Wilmington, Ill., 60481.
Friends may sign the online guest book or send private condolences to the family by logging onto www.FRBfuneral.com.
Cremation and memorial services have been made under the direction and care of Freitag-Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road in Wilmington. For more information, call (815) 476-2181.
