Nobuko Iba - Rafu Shimpo

Nobuko Iba
March 17, 1919 – May 19, 2020

With great sadness Nobuko “Nobie” Iba, a wonderful and kind spirit passed on May 19, 2020, 1 month after her 101st birthday. Nobie was a loving and caring mother, wife, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and sister. Preceded in death by her husband Harry in 2003, Nobie leaves her daughter Joan Kobayashi (Kay), son Larry (Phyllis), son Dennis (Laurie) grandchildren Robyn Handley (Daniel), Kristin Lederer (Joe), Todd Kobayashi (Kristy), Darren Iba (Arlene) and Trevor Iba (Sarah). Great grandchildren Joey, Colin, Kiana, Jarrett, Jordan and Jett. Also our “adopted” neighbor and friend David Takeuchi.

Nobie was born March 17, 1919 in Livingston, CA to the Minabe Family, farming in the Yamato Colony. The oldest daughter in a family of 8 children, she helped Livingston Bachan with daily family chores and chasing her younger sisters around the chicken coops with a broom. Interned at the Amache Relocation camp in Colorado she met our father Harry, were married in Camp and afterwards settled in Los Angeles. Mom raised 3 children and helped Dad with the nursery business. She enjoyed nurturing her love of art and beauty with her pastimes of ikebana flower arrangement and bonsai. Mom belonged to a weekly knitting group that she was an original member of for over 35 years until recently. Everyone was amazed at the precision and quality of her knitting, at 100 years old!

Mom and Dad loved to travel and probably made it to almost every country around the world. Her curio cabinet contains sentimental mementos from all of their trips. Traveling with the nursery association, bonsai club, friends and family, Mom always looked forward to their many trips. A picture of Mom and Dad riding donkeys up the hills of Greece, or a picture of them whitewater rafting down the Colorado River in class 4 rapids brings smiles to us. Fortunately, after Dad’s passing Mom decided to continue her love of travel by taking the entire family on annual trips to Japan, Italy, Spain and Canada to be sure we could spend more time with her.

Mom was a very quiet and reserved person, waking up early in the morning to prepare breakfast and ready herself for the days activities and being the last one to bed to enjoy some quiet time to relax. She always took great care of herself and those benefits showed later in life as no one could ever believe she was as old as she was. Mom was active and alert until just a few weeks before her passing, a blessing and source of inspiration for us all to emulate our lives after hers.

Our family would like to thank all of the workers and caregivers at Sunrise Senior Living and Saint John of God Retirement Center who have been touched through their association with our mother.

In lieu of traditional koden, please make a donation to a charity of your choice if so desired.