Ikue "Tsuru" Sova

Ikue was born to her parents, Saitaro Tsuru (father) and Aino Seto (mother), on August 7, 1928 in Tosu City, Saga-ken, Japan. She passed away on October 20, 2017 at Garden Courte Memory Care Community in Olympia, Washington, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She spent some of her youngest years living in Manchuria (China) where her father worked for the National Railroad. She started working for the U.S Government at Brady Field in Fukuoka, Japan, in the tours office. Later while working as a teletype (torn tape) operator in 1958 at Yokosuka Navy Communications Station, she met and eventually married (January 1962) her husband, Robert “Bob,” in Yokohama, Japan. In 1968, she attended and graduated from the Texas School of Cosmetology in Austin, Texas. Although a gifted seamstress, painter and doll maker, she loved working as a hairdresser and pursued that vocation wherever her husband’s military assignments took them. She was a dedicated wife, always in support of Bob’s military assignments and career. She was a devoted member of the Buddhist faith (SGI-USA) most of her adult life. Ikue is survived by her husband, Bob of Olympia, Washington; daughter, Cathey Patneaude (Dan) of Alabama; son, Michael; and five grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents; sisters, Hanako, Setsuko and Taeko; and brothers, Kenji and Yoshio. We wish to convey our gratitude to the staff, employees, volunteers and most of all the past and present caregivers of both the Seniors at Risk (STARS) Senior Services program and those at Garden Courte Memory Care Community, with a special THANK YOU to Dr. Bryan Morris-Ward and his family team. Thanks also the Assured Hospice team of Julie, Brittany, Rachael and Rick, without whose dedicated help and compassionate care our long journey would have been intolerable. Please leave memories of Ikue or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.