Kojima, Masaru

KOJIMA, NISHIDA, KREUDER, MCCANN, RIVERS, THOMAS, RIX, TAKAHASHI

Posted By: Ruth Maring - Volunteer poster (email)
Date: 2/26/2008 at 08:46:16

Kojima, Masaru View/Sign Guest Book

ALBANY, Ill. — Masaru “Mush” Kojima, 75, of 1003 S. Bluff, Albany, IL, died Sunday, February 17, 2008, at his residence. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 23, 2008, at Albany United Methodist Church, Albany, IL. The Rev. David W. Davies, pastor of Albany United Methodist Church, Albany, IL, will be officiating. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, February 22, 2008, at the Fulton Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home, with a 7:30 p.m. Lions Club service. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 23, 2008, at Savanna Township Cemetery, Savanna, IL. Memorials may be given to the Lions of Illinois Endowment Fund. He was born May 11, 1932, in Arthur, UT, to Chutaro and Uta (Nishida) Kojima. He graduated in 1950 from Cyprus High School in Arthur, UT. He first married Lucille Kreuder on August 4, 1961, in Kaiser Slautun, Germany. She died July 2, 1995. He then married Carol McCann on May 20, 2000, in Bloomingdale, IL. She survives. Mush began his career working at the Federal Government Department of the US Army at the Tooele Ordnance Depot in Tooele, Utah. In the early 1950s, he trained at the US Army Ammunition Inspector School at the Savanna Ordnance Depot in Savanna, IL. After completion of the training in 1955, he served in a variety of positions at various locations around the world, supporting American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. His duty assignments included Tooele Ordnance Depot, UT; Seneca Ordnance Depot, NY; Savanna Ordnance Depot, IL; Germany; Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, IL; Korea; Pueblo Army Depot, CO; Washington, DC; and Rock Island, IL. After 40 years of loyal and dedicated service to his country, Mush retired as the deputy of the Defense Ammunition Directorate, US Army Armament Munitions and Chemical Command, Rock Island, IL. Mush originated the Rock Island Amputee Support group, counseling amputees to help them adjust and carry on with their lives. He was a member of the Joliet York Rite AF and AM of IL, Wilmington, IL Lodge No. 208, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and the Al Kaly Shirner of Pueblo, CO. Mush is a 57-year member of the Lions Club International, starting his membership in the Savanna Lions Club, and currently a member of the Rock Island Greater Lions Club where he has served as president and secretary for 21 years. He is a past president of the Lions of Illinois Foundation, a 12th level Foundation Fellow and Melvin Jones Fellow and was a recipient of the Lions of Illinois Foundation Lifetime Service Award. He was an assistant Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop 46 in Savanna and a member of NARFE (National Association for Federal Employees and Annuitants.) Survivors include his wife, Carol; two stepdaughters, Alaina Rivers and Gayle (Mrs. David) Thomas; one stepson, Daryl (Jane) Rix; several stepgrand- and great-grandchildren; one sister, Misako (Mitsui) Takahashi of Utah; nieces, Barbara Takahaski and Kerrye (Phil) Takahaski; nephews, Scott (Sue) Kojima; Gerry (Linda) Kreuder and Rex Kreuder; several great- and great-great-nieces and nephews He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lucille; and two brothers, Toshio and Tadayoski Kojima. To send online condolences go to www.bosmarenkes.com.Death date: Feb. 17, 2008#
Published in the Clinton Herald from 2/18/2008 - 2/20/2008