George Edward Tanaka

TANAKA, George Edward Passed away on January 22, 2013 after a brief illness. He was born on February 28, 1926 in Spokane, WA, where he lived all his life. The fourth child and second oldest son among seven children, he started farming at a young age to help his family. George attended Lewis and Clark High School, and enjoyed a long career as an electrician. He began his career in the 1950s and eventually helped establish an electrical contracting firm before retiring in 2006 on his 80th birthday. Ever industrious on behalf of his clients, George was also personally generous; his family members and many friends were frequent beneficiaries of his talents, as George was always willing to help with home repairs and projects of any kind. Throughout his life, George was a quiet man with varied interests. In his youth, George was a member of the Mountaineers. In later years, his natural eye for antiques made him an avid collector; he especially enjoyed acquiring antique clocks. His other pastimes included salmon fishing, mushroom hunting and growing fruit trees. He enjoyed classical music and always appreciated a good mystery novel. George is survived by his wife Ellen; daughters Kathy (and her husband Michael Mogan), Kris (George Swift), Carolyn Midori and Jen; siblings Elizabeth “Hatsy” Leong, Dee Matsumoto, Pat Tanaka and Hare Tanaka (and his wife Laurel); grandsons Matthew and Patrick Mogan; sisters-in-law Ayako and Alice; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Hatakichi and Ito Tanaka, and brothers Isamu and Joe. The family extends a heartfelt thank you to friends and relatives for their support, and to the doctors, nurses and staff of Sacred Heart Medical Center for the kindness shown while caring for George during his illness. A memorial service will be held in the spring.