Naomi Wink

Naomi Ward Kasubjak Wink, age 86, passed away Friday, May 30th at the Heritage Healthcare Center. Naomi was born on the 28th of March, 1922 at the Ward family farm in Butler County, Kentucky to Ethel M. Babbs Ward and Faril Andrew Ward, Sr. As an infant, she moved with her family to Evansville, Indiana. She was a gifted musician and artist as well as an author and genealogist. A classically trained pianist, she played for many people and programs as a child and throughout her life. She enjoyed playing with her grandson, Bryce Bunner – a violist. Through the years, they performed together at church on many occasions. Naomi was a life-time member of Bethany Christian Church. She graduated from Central High School in 1940. In 1944 she was employed by Missouri Bridge and Iron Co. working in a small office at the Evansville Shipyard where LST’s were built for WW-II while her husband, Michael A. Kasubjak was in the Army. In the 1950’s, she served the Girl Scout Raintree Council as Neighborhood Chairman organizing new troops in schools in the Evansville area. She worked in scouting at Bethany Christian Church. Attending the University of Evansville in the 1960’s, she studied in the medium of oil painting with: Fred Eilers, a noted portrait artist of Indiana and Northern Neck, Virginia; Robert Osborn of Sarasota Florida; Margo Hoff of New York City; and Elaine deKooning, the artist commissioned to do President John F. Kennedy’s portrait. She also studied under the sculptor, Howard Oagley, and with watercolorist Bud Shackleford of San Diego, California and Jerry Baum of Indiana. She won acceptance of works in the prestigious Mid States Exhibition juried by Lester Cooke, Curator of Fine Art at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and the Hoosier Salon of Indianapolis many times exhibiting her work in the Indianapolis Hilton. One-man shows include the Mirror Gallery, Old National Bank Gallery, and Washington Square Mall Gallery. Having received many awards from the Evansville Museum of fine Arts, she won the “Painting of the Month” eight times. Her work has hung at New Harmony, Indiana Galleries, been purchased for the Vanderburgh County Schools, and been purchased to be hung in homes and businesses throughout the United States. She signed all her paintings “N. Kasubjak”. Naomi taught art classes at the Evansville Museum, was a member of the Artist’s Guild, and as a member of Altrusa International, she was their Fine Arts representative. In the 1980’s she worked as a social advocate of minor offenders at the Second Chance House. Other organizations of which she was a member include: the Mary Anthony McGary Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, the John William Slaughter Chapter of the Daughters of the War of 1812, and the Evansville Society Children of the American Revolution—serving as Sr. State Chairman of Organizing New Chapters in conjunction with her grandson, John Kirk Bunner, as he was serving as the president of the Evansville Society of the C.A.R. and the Indiana C.A.R. New Chapter Jr. Membership Chairman. As an author, she was honored by Gov. Paul Patton being appointed a Kentucky Colonel. In 1995 her work, the historical book “The Ward Connections” was published and is represented in the Library of Congress, the New York Public Library, and in various university libraries throughout the United States. She was predeceased by her father--Faril Andrew Ward, Sr.; her mother--Ethel M. Babbs Ward; her husband--Albert Martin Wink; the father of her two daughters--Michael Anthony Kasubjak; her brothers--Faril Andrew Ward, Jr. and Kenith Shelton Ward; her half brother--Augustus William “Boots” Wink; and her nephew--Kenith Steven Ward. She is survived by: daughters--Linda Lee Kasubjak Bonnett and Carole Jane Kasubjak Bunner; son-in-law John G. Bunner; all of Evansville; four grandsons--John Kirk Bunner of Dublin, OH; Anthony Christian Bonnett and his wife, Jill of Sheboygan, WI; Master Sergeant Michael Bryce Bunner of Washington, D.C.; and Faril Alexander Bunner of Evansville; three great grandsons--John Evan Bunner of Dublin, OH; Anthony Christopher Bonnett and William Gabriel Bonnett of Sheboygan, WI; nieces and nephew—Diana Jeanne Powers, Shirley Elaine Elmendorf, Karen Loretta Ward, and Faril Alan Ward. The family wishes to thank the Heritage Healthcare family for all the loving care they gave Naomi in her final days. Friends can visit Pierre Funeral home (on the west side of Evansville) on Monday, June 2nd, from 2 pm until 8 pm. Church services will be held at Bethany Christian Church (on Mill Road) at 11 am on Tuesday, June 3rd. Memorial Contributions may be made to Bethany Christian Church or the Evansville Food Bank.

Naomi Wink

March 28, 1922 - May 30, 2008