NEW ULM–Ikuko Poetter, 93, of New Ulm died Dec. 29th, 2023 at Oak Hills Living Center.

Funeral service will be held 11am January 20, 2024 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, MN with Rev. Guenther officiating. Committal will be at a later date. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at St. John’s. Minnesota Valley Funeral Service will be handling the arrangements.

Ikuko “Iku” Abe was born to Reichi and Mikio Abe on January 18th, 1930 in Niigata City, Japan. She was named after the plum blossom which blooms in the winter, giving hope for spring. Iku was the only girl in a family with four brothers (Norio, Kegi, Atsushi, and Susumu).

As a child she enjoyed swimming in the Sea of Japan and listening to American Jazz records. Her mom secretly sent her to Sunday School to learn about Jesus. The Lord’s plan was unfolding. When World War II began, she was made to give up her American music for the sake of patriotism and couldn’t attend Sunday School. As a teen she and her classmates were made to sew military uniforms at school. Iku was sent to Tokyo for college studies, but arrived to find the school burned and closed. She returned home with Tuberculosis and without the tuition money the family had sent ahead.

In 1950 Richard Poetter arrived in Japan as a vicar. The Lord continued to unfold His plan. Iku was a Sunday School teacher where he was assigned to vicar. This is how Richard and Iku met. Their commitment to each other endured years of resistance from her family and social norms.

Richard and Ikuko finally gained approval from her family and were united in marriage on Oct. 26, 1953 at the US Embassy in Tokyo. They had a Christian wedding the following day at Hope Lutheran Church in Niigata, Iku’s hometown. Richard and Iku had 3 children, Hilda, Chris, and Timothy. Richard Poetter served as a Missouri Synod Christian missionary in Niigata, Japan for a few years and then in Megumi Lutheran in Mito City, Japan as a Wisconsin Synod Christian missionary for decades. Iku was instrumental in assisting Richard in many ways with the mission in Japan besides being a wife and mom. This included translating, teaching Sunday School, cooking and baking for the church, entertaining the Mission Board, and giving support wherever she was needed. Her Christian faith was evident in her thoughts, words, and actions.

After their children were sent to American boarding schools, Iku took up traditional Japanese painting. She experienced success and fulfillment as an artist earning awards and exhibitions in Japan and the United States. Richard and Iku retired in 1991, moving to New Ulm to be near their daughter Hilda and family. Iku continued to enjoy painting, sewing, and gardening. Grandma Poetter taught her children, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren to paint.

Iku is preceded in death by her husband, Richard, and three of her brothers. She is survived by her daughter Hilda Jaspersen and her husband Dennis of New Ulm, Minnesota; sons and daughters-in-law Chris Poetter and his wife Ann of Kissimme, Florida, Timothy Poetter and his wife Montse of McNeil, Arizona, eleven grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren and one brother.

Memorial contributions will be going to Megumi Lutheran Church in Mito City, Japan where the Poetter’s served the majority of their ministry.

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