Edward Yoshio Mayeda

1931 - 2024

Edward Yoshio Mayeda

September 9, 1931 - April 27, 2024

Olympia, Washington - Ed passed away peacefully on April 27,2024 with his family at his side. Born on September 9, 1931 in Marysville, California to immigrant parents Goichiro and Mitsu Mayeda, Ed was a second generation Japanese American, traditionally known as a Nisei. Both of his parents and an older sister preceded him in death. When World War II broke-out Ed was interned at Camp Amache (Granada, CO) for the duration of the war. After the war, he and his family relocated to Grand Junction, CO where he completed high school before moving back to California. Ed then spent two years attending a junior college before enlisting in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He spent nearly two years aboard ship and the last two years of his enlistment in Japan with the Navy Intelligence Service. Upon honorable discharge he completed his undergraduate studies in accounting at the University of California, Berkeley and subsequently earned an MBA degree at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. Ed spent all of his working career in the insurance industry; he initially worked in San Francisco before he accepted a position with Sunset Life Insurance Company in Olympia, WA. After spending some twenty-five years with Sunset, he retired as Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer in October, 1996. Ed was very involved in community affairs serving in different capacities with the Japanese American Citizens League, Olympia-Kato Sister City Association, the Tumwater Area Council of Boy Scouts, the Olympia Host Lions Club, the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, and SCORE. He was a life member of the Seattle Nisei Veterans Committee, and most recently, Ed was a trustee for the South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC). Ed is survived by his wife Yoshiye (Yo) of 66 years, his daughters Karen Mayeda Schrank (Fred) and Leslie Mayeda Kaczmarski (Vern), a son Steven; and with great pride: a granddaughter, Naomi Schrank of Chicago, IL and a grandson, Spencer Kaczmarski of Boulder, CO. He leaves behind many nephews, nieces, grand-nephews and -nieces. A private service for immediate family members will be held. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that contributions be made in Ed's name to the Tacoma Buddhist Temple, the SPSCC Foundation, or the Olympia Host Lions Club Camp Leo Fund for diabetic children or to any charity in Ed's memory.