Ayako Yamada

1918 - 2018

Ayako (Iky) Yamada

Iky Yamada passed peacefully on October 3, 2018 in Seattle at the age of 99. She was born November 5, 1918 in Leland, WA, to Akizo and Kiwa (nee Nakagawa) Doi. Her father came from Japan to work on the railroads, then became a tenant farmer in Woodinville, WA, selling produce at Pike Place Market. Kiwa died of kidney disease in 1924, leaving Iky at age 5 to care for her baby sister Yoshia (Yo) while her father and brothers Jim (Masato) and Bill (Saburo) worked the farm. She also had to learn to cook and sew for the family.

Iky graduated from Bothell High School in 1937 where she was an honor student active in clubs and sports. She was soon courted by Noboru (Don) Yamada and they were married April 19, 1941. Then in 1942, along with family, friends and other Japanese Americans, they were incarcerated at Tule Lake internment camp. Despite this, Iky's husband, brothers and brothers-in-law volunteered to serve in the Armed Forces where Noby achieved the rank of Captain.

Post-war they settled in

Minneapolis, MN, where daughters

Lynn and Gail were born. After earning a B.A. in business on the G.I. Bill, Noby took a job with the I.R.S. In 1964 a promotion took them back to Seattle where they lived on Mercer Island. Noby died in 1971 of a myocardial infarction, leaving Iky a widow at age 52. After 25 years as a homemaker, she forged a new life, going back to work full-time. She retired from King County Administration in 1986, then traveled the U.S. and the world, indulging her spirit of adventure and fun. She was a devoted active member of the Japanese Presbyterian Church. In 2012 she found a loving home at Nikkei Manor.

Iky is survived by daughters Lynn Yamada Lass and Gail Yamada, granddaughters Jenny Iyako Lass and Hana Lass, great-granddaughter Dahlia Iyako Toms, and her sister Yo Uomoto.

A memorial will be held

Sunday, October 21, 7 pm, at the

Japanese Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Hall,

1801 24th Avenue S.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to any of the following in Seattle: Nikkei Manor, Japanese Presbyterian Church, or Keiro Northwest.