Sachiko 'Diane' Knudson

Sachiko "Diane" Knudson "How lucky we are to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." Sachiko "Diane" Knudson passed away peacefully March 5, 2012, in Abilene, Texas, surrounded by her children and those she loved. She was born in Nagoya, Japan May 27, 1932 and first came to the United States in 1958 as a military wife and lived at various army posts across the country. She came to call Madelia, MN her home after arriving in 1966 where she worked at Tony Downs Foods until she retired in 1998. After retirement, she did volunteer work for the Madelia Enterprise Thrift Shoppe where she enjoyed spending her time and making new friends. She later moved to Abilene, Texas in 2009 and lived with her son Gary Robinett and his wife Kim. While growing up in Japan, Diane was an avid tennis player and attended Finishing School after graduation from High School. She loved to sew and made many of the clothes for her children when they were young. She learned much of how to speak English by watching American television. Diane loved living on the farm in Madelia with her partner of 22 years, John Piepgras, and enjoyed gardening, sewing, cooking, fishing, friends, and family. She is survived by her twin sons Larry Robinett and his wife Dayna of Wichita Falls, TX, Gary Robinett and his wife Kim (Wilcox) of Abilene, TX, her daughter Michelle Knudson and her friend Jim Yock of St. James, MN, six grandchildren, Alexis Alicia, Stephanie, Joshua, Jordan, and Ryan, and twin great-grandchildren, Rose and Charisma. A remembrance for family and friends will be held at Sturm Funeral Home, Pilgrim Chapel, in Madelia, MN on Saturday, March 17, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a monetary donation to the Madelia Enterprise Thrift Shoppe in Diane's name.