Hisae "Sachiko" Woelk passed away in Hutchinson, Kan. on Dec. 24, 2012, at Hospice House. She was born Dec. 1, 1933, in the fishing village of Sasebo, Japan.

She is survived by: her husband, Bobbie; her daughter, Kathy (Yassin) Jaafar; grandson, Aliskander Jaafar; her sister, Meiko Baba; and a niece, who still reside in Japan. She met Bobbie D. Woelk in 1966, in Yokosuka, Japan at the naval base, when he was doing a tour there. They fell in love and married Feb. 20, 1967, at the American Embassy in Tokyo, Japan and had been married for 45 years. They had been inseparable ever since. She was a homemaker, loved cleaning, cooking her Japanese food, and the network of Japanese friends in the local area. She resided in Hutchinson the majority of her life, She became a naturalized citizen in 1994, conquering the test even though she was legally blind and could not read or write.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, at Elliott Mortuary with Pastor Tonya Ramer Wenger presiding. Private burial will be in Buhler Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12 noon to 9 p.m. Thursday, with the family to receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice House, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.