Yoshiko Thompson

Yoshiko (Yamada) Thompson, aged 94, entered eternal life on January 19, 2025 after a brief illness. Yoshiko or "Yoshi" as she was often called, was the wife of the late Robert A. Thompson.

Yoshiko was born on February 28, 1930 in Nagasaki-Ken, Japan where she spent her foundational years. She came from a large family of ten in rural Japan. Yoshi was the fourth daughter of five girls and three brothers. The family farm provided lots of outdoor experiences and she was always a strong hardworking woman, wife and mother. Yoshi was skilled in detailed drawings and possessed a funny and quirky sense of humor that she sometimes displayed in her amazing courtroom-like sketches.

Yoshiko met and married her husband in occupied Japan after World War II. Stationed in Japan in the late 1950s, Robert "Tom" Thompson was a career USN Chief. American courtship of Japanese in post-war Japan was complicated; however, Tom was able to learn Japanese, earn Yoshiko's father's trust and convince him to agree to a traditional Japanese wedding ceremony. Yoshi was a devoted mother and sought to provide special Japanese meals to her American family. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. As a dedicated stay-at-home mom, Yoshiko found early life in America difficult due to military deployments and her limited language ability, but she was always surrounded by supportive Navy wives who kindly helped her. She was always there to offer guidance, support, and encouragement, no matter what challenges they faced.

In her free time, Yoshiko enjoyed music and gardening, and was always ready and available for shopping trips. She didn't like to drive fast, but would agree to lean into fast corners if asked. She loved her green tea and sashimi ages before it became vogue.

Yoshiko is survived by her children Patrick Thompson (Rebecca) of Warrenton, Va., Tim Thompson of Middletown, R.I. and Son-in-law Jamie Johnson of Cottage Grove, MN, and loving Grandmother to Olivia and Lance Thompson of Warrenton, VA, and Marissa, Caitlyn, and Timmy Johnson of Cottage Grove, MN.

Yoshiko is preceded in death by her loving husband, Robert "Tom" Thompson and her daughter, Kathleen Iko (Thompson) Johnson, . Her memory will be cherished by all who knew her.

The funeral service will be private.