Kimiyo (Yamamoto) Ige, 81 passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2026 in Rolling Hills, California. Born in the Poston, Arizona internment camp, Kimiyo was the youngest of eight siblings—a beginning that shaped the resilience and creativity she carried throughout her life. From a young age, she immersed herself in the study of traditional Japanese arts, including Odori, Tea Ceremony, and Ikebana. These cultural disciplines not only connected her to her heritage but also sparked the artistic passion that guided her professional path as a graphic designer. Her talent brought her to Westways magazine, where she painted two of its covers and advanced through a demanding career to become Senior Art Director at Raytheon. Toward the end of her tenure at Raytheon, she expanded her influence by traveling to various art departments across the company, teaching teams how to work effectively with military graphic design standards. As she traveled for work, she developed an interest in visiting places she never imagined she would see. After retiring, she traveled with her husband to meaningful destinations—the warm shores of Hawaii, her family’s ancestral village in Ehime, Japan, and his family’s roots in Okinawa. She valued time spent with family and friends and dedicated herself to projects close to her heart. Among these, one of her proudest achievements was working with her brother to design several books documenting Japanese American internment, a contribution that honored both history and her community. She is survived by her husband, Paul Ige; her daughter, Stacy Ige; her sister, Kiko Sadamitsu; her brother-in-law, David Ige, and his wife, Elaine; as well as many beloved nephews, nieces, grandnephews, and grandnieces. She will be deeply missed.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00am on Friday, March 13, 2026 at Zenshuji Soto Mission 123 S. Hewitt St, Los Angeles, CA 90012. In place of koden, the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in her memory.