Miiko (Aihara) Coon, of Erie, Michigan, passed away on February 1, 2022 at the age of 91.
Miiko was born in Wakamatsu Ward, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan on January 25, 1931. She was the second of eight children to Sakae and Shizuko (Miyazaki) Aihara.
While on her way to work at her brother's tailor business, she crossed paths several times with an American service member heading to Itazuke Air Base. That Airman, Harold Coon, became the love of her life and they married in a Japanese traditional ceremony on December 25, 1954 and in a Christian ceremony on September 2, 1955. In December 1955, they traveled by boat to the United States with plans to settle down in Monroe, Michigan. A little over a decade later, Miiko proudly earned her American citizenship.
After raising six children, she entered the workforce as a nurse assistant at Beach Nursing Home and The Lutheran Home of Monroe. Miiko also worked at Bedford Senior Community Center as a helper and finished her career as a baker at Tim Hortons in Toledo, Ohio.
Although only standing at 4'10", Miiko was filled with joy and had a witty sense of humor. She was an excellent cook who never let anyone leave her home with an empty stomach. Miiko enjoyed shopping, doing crafts, such as stained glass, ceramics, sewing, knitting, and canning vegetables from the family garden. She could do nearly anything except drive. She was a fan of the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Pistons, and professional wrestling. Miiko was a member of various bowling leagues in Monroe.
Miiko was preceded in death by: her siblings, Seishi, Nobuko, Yoshiro, Masahiro, and Nahomi, her parents, Sakae and Shizuko, her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Harold and Belma, and brothers-in-law, Donald Coon and Bobby Potter.
Miiko is survived by her husband of 67 years, Harold, her brothers, Taketoshi and Toshio, her six children, Bernard (Deborah) Coon, Naomi Coon, Ronald Coon, Amy (Paul) Southworth, Brenda (Mike) Ryan, and Howard Coon, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and sisters-in-law, Pauline Potter and Hildegard Coon.
In accordance with Miiko's wishes private services have been held. Bacarella Funeral Home assisted the family.
Memorial donations may be given to the East Ida Immanuel Lutheran Church and the Humane Society of Monroe County.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the family by visiting the obituary page at www.bacarellafuneralhome.com .