In Loving Memory of Joe Amburn

12/13/1931 - 11/7/2014

Location: Anacortes, Washington

Visits: 27,498

Joseph Earl Amburn, 82, passed away on Friday, November 7 at his home in Anacortes, WA with his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and care giver at his side.

Joe was born at home in Ducktown, Tennessee on December 13, 1931 to Charles Rufus and Cora Rose Lee Amburn (nee Noe). Joe spent most of his growing up years in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he was the first member of the Boys Club. He joined the Army at 16 and retired as an Army sergeant, and was a Korean and Vietnam war veteran. He worked in New Jersey, New York City, Germany, Japan, Iran, and Turkey as an electronics technician. He was a math whiz and in middle age discovered his second vocation as a teacher. He loved reading, bowling, watching wrestling, and traveling, which included trips to many countries around the world with his wife Setsuko. When Joe and Setsuko moved to Anacortes, they joined the Anacortes Sister Cities Association and traveled to its Japanese sister city of Kisakata, Japan. Joe loved to make people laugh by telling jokes or talking about crazy stories he had read about in the newspaper. He enjoyed surprising people with his knowledge as he thought they often underestimated this smart country boy.

Joe is survived by his wife Setsuko to whom he was married for 61 years, his daughter Cora Amburn-Lijek and son-in-law Mark Lijek (Anacortes), grandchildren Michael (Bellingham) and Krystyna (New York City), his sisters Margaret Webber and Susie Weddington (Knoxville, TN) and their families, and the families of Edith Julian, his eldest sister who preceded him in death.

The family thanks the many people who took care of Joe over the past few years or helped in some way to make it possible for him to stay at home. These include the staff of Visiting Angels, Island Hospital Home Health, Hospice of the NW, and the VA and many others.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, November 23 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Anacortes Senior Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Island Hospital Home Health, Hospice of the NW, Anacortes Sister Cities Association’s Nikaho City Student Exchange program or a charity of your choice.