Obituary of Martha Jane Ichivanagi

Martha Jane Ichiyanagi passed away on May 8, 2014 in Lacey, Washington. She was born in Yakima, Washington, to Myron and Emelie Goodwin Mehl on April 25, 1936. The family moved to Olympia in 1942, where she attended Lincoln School and graduated from Olympia High School in 1954. She graduated from the University of Washington with an RN degree. After briefly working as a nurse at Harborview Medical Center, she followed her husband to Japan, where theystarted a family. She spent nearly 50years in the northern cities of Niigata and Yamagata, Japan, teaching English and assisting visitors and new residents from many parts of the world. Martha was preceded in death by husband, Kunio Ichiyanagi, in 2008. She then returned to the United States and lived at Panorama Retirement Community until her death. She befriended many and will be dearly missed by all her knew her. She is survived by daughter, Miki; son, Dean; granddaughter, Kanoa; grandson, Kai; brothers, Christian and Thomas Mehl; and sister, Deborah Abas. Donations in memory of Martha may be sent to the Ibsen Adoption Network, www.ibsenadoptionnetwork.com. Please leave memories of Martha or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.