To be absent from the body is to be in the presence of the Lord. May this celebration of eternal life bring you peace, hope, and comfort, knowing we have the blessed assurance that one day we will be reunited with our loved ones.
Akiko Polite
January 30, 1927 ~ July 12, 2025
Akiko Polite departed this life on July 12th at her home in New Braunfels to be with her Heavenly Father. She was born on January 30, 1927 in Yoshii, Japan, the second daughter of Satako (Ishibashi) and Tatsuo Mukae. In 2018, she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior when God placed on Jo Ellen’s heart to ask her mom if she knew where she was going when she died. When she answered no, God led Jo Ellen to share the Gospel by reading the book “What are Christmas and Easter all about” by John R. Cross with her.
Akiko shared many stories about growing up with 10 siblings in Japan. Her favorite stories were about riding in their Oldsmobile making house calls with her father who was a doctor. She learned about being compassionate, kind and generous by witnessing her parents helping families in the community especially during the war. After high school, she attended seamstress school and shared her talents by sewing clothes for her daughters and friends to include her daughter’s Anita’s wedding and bridesmaid dresses.
Akiko’s family lived near Itazuke Air Base where she met Joseph (Joe) Polite and they married in 1955. In 1958, she left her family in Japan to devote her life supporting Joe until he passed in October 7,1999. As a military spouse, she quickly learned to be resourceful, overcoming adversities while raising three daughters many times alone. All three daughters served in the military so it’s not a surprise why she was so patriotic. She always voted, watched all the presidents’ inaugurations, loved parades and fireworks. On the day she passed, when asked to write a sentence, any sentence, she wrote “I love the United States of America.”
Akiko lived in Jacksonville, Arkansas for most of her life, 1973-2015 where she touched many lives with her love and kindness. At Little Rock Air Base Chapel, she faithfully served as a greeter alongside Joe, who was the head usher, they rarely missed a Sunday. She was the Razorbacks biggest fan, rarely missing a game on tv. She loved spending time with family and friends, gardening, flower arranging, cake decorating, crocheting and arts and crafts. In 2019, she was introduced to LEGOs and completed over 50 projects; Himeji Castle was her last project in 2023 and her favorite was the U.S. Capitol Building. She also enjoyed walking with friends and the family dogs, walking as far as six miles a day to a couple of blocks on July 11th.
Akiko leaves to cherish her memories, her siblings in Japan: Miyoko Tanaka of Fukuoka, Yukuyasu Mukae of Tokyo, Denzo Mukae of Chiba, Yoshimaru Mukae of Fukuoka, and daughters, Jo Ellen Polite of New Braunfels, Anita (Dave) Wabeke of Cibolo, Elizabeth (Jonathan) Polite-Carter of New Braunfels. Also her grandsons Justyn Carter, Jonathan (Elizabeth) Wabeke, Krisjan (Brooke) Carter, and great granddaughter Dakota Carter and great grandson Jonathan Wabeke Jr. She is preceded in her death by husband Joe and siblings: Tatsuko Mukae, Teruka Tomono, Kazunori Mukae, Takanori Mukae, Matsuko Yoshinaga, Shigenobu Mukae and Taeko Mukae.
In closing, her grandson, Krisjan said it best, Akiko was a unique expression of love on this earth. Although she rarely said “I love you” or gave hugs, she showered us with her love by always giving us her all. We will celebrate the amazing life of Akiko Polite at the Lux Funeral Home in New Braunfels on Saturday, August 2nd at 2:00 pm.
Services
Celebration of Life: Saturday, August 2, 2025 2:00 pm
Lux Funeral Home & Cremation Services
1254 Business 35 N.
New Braunfels, TX 78130
830-624-0500
https://www.luxfhcares.com/
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2025-08-02 14:00:00
2025-08-02 14:00:00
AkikoPoliteCelebration of Life
Celebration of Life
1254 Business 35 N.,New Braunfels, TX 78130
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