Lana Setsuko White

Lana Setsuko White, 88, passed away on March 2, 2020, at KU Medical Center.

A memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2020, from 3-5pm, at Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E. 39th St. in Independence. Contributions may be made in her honor to the Puppetry Arts Institute.

Lana was born on July 25, 1931, in Kokura, Japan, the only daughter of Shigeru and Same Miyazaki. She graduated from high school in Kokura, and married Robert Joseph White on November 8, 1952. They moved to San Francisco, California in 1956, and two years later they settled in Independence, Missouri. To their union were born three children.

Lana was a philanthropist to the core, and sought to connect and make friends with whomever she encountered. As she put it, “you’re less likely to fight with a friend than a stranger.” This perspective inspired her to create “sister cities” and “sister states.” This created a friendly bond between cities in Missouri and Kansas and cities (including Lawrence, Topeka, Columbia, Wichita, Independence, and others). Missouri and Nagano are sister states, and Lana would teach others about the culture and history of both. For years, she set up a booth at the Missouri State Fair so that she would have the opportunity to bridge a cultural gap to all in attendance. She was in People to People in the 1960s, then served as a founding member and President of the Heart of America Japan-America Society. She helped established the Japanese consulate in Kansas City. Always wanting to educate and show others her history, she often took groups of students and adults to Japan, where she served as interpreter and travel guide. She took in any student from overseas who needed a host family.

With all her cultural and civic involvement, she was also a seamstress for Wolf Brothers and later Swanson’s of the Plaza, where she instructed others how to tailor clothes, uniforms, and wedding dresses. She was passionate about art exhibits at the Nelson Art Gallery and the Truman Library, especially as they pertained to her home country. She was a board member of the Puppetry Arts Institute and active in the Greater Kansas City Japan Festival. She was a bookkeeper for Blue Ridge Bank for 22 years, finally retiring in 2008 at the age of 75. She attended the Gudgell Park Congregation Community of Christ. A woman of great humanity and integrity, her absence will be deeply felt by this community.

Lana is survived by her children, Gary White, Paula Lemberger, and Clay White; four grandchildren, Adrian White (wife Deanna), Robert White, Hailey Ann Brisbin (husband Joshua) and Evan Cole Lemberger (wife Amber); four great-grandchildren; and numerous friends here and abroad.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Joseph White; and her parents.

Online condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel 816-373-3600)