Obituary of Haruko T. Koplaski

Haruko Tsutsumi Koplaski passed away peacefully on September 8, 2017 at Tall Oaks Assisted Living Center in Reston, Virginia at the age of 90.  "Susie," as she was known by friends, was born on November 4, 1926 in Shingu, Japan, a small town on the rocky mountainous coast of Southeast Japan.  There, she attended seamstress school.

She met her husband, Walter Joseph Koplaski, "Ski," during the early 1960's while he was stationed for the U.S. Air Force in Okinawa, Japan and "Susie" was a cashier at the base Post Exchange.  They married on July 3, 1963.  In 1964, Mr. Koplaski was transferred back stateside. Mrs. Koplaski's first introduction to the United States was Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  While in Cheyenne, the couple had their first and only child, John Koplaski.  In 1966 the family was transferred to Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, Hawaii.  In 1969 the family settled in Northern Virginia where they would spend the rest of their lives.  Throughout that time, she continued sewing, knitting, dress and outfit making, and alterations for family and friends.

Mrs. Koplaski is survived by her son, John, two grandchildren Jodie and Eric, and several nieces and nephews in Japan.  She was preceded in death by her husband on June 30, 1999.

Mrs. Koplaski will be interred next to her husband at Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday, January 11, 2018 at 2:00 PM.