Gene Dogen

Obituary Gene Dogen, 63, of Fife, Washington died December 25th, 2010. He was born on September 30, 1947 in Belvidere, Illinois. Gene recently retired from the Lake Washington School District as an elementary physical education teacher at the Alexander Graham Bell Elementary School and the Community School in Kirkland, Washington. He taught 32 years in the public schools, which also included the Everett School District in Everett, Washington and the Tacoma Public Schools in Tacoma, Washington. He was a recipient of three PTSA Golden Acorn Awards in recognition for outstanding service to children and youths and also received the Outstanding Educator Award by the Kirkland Rotary Club. Gene graduated from Fife High School, Washington State University and Western Washington University. He was an honorably discharged Army National Guard veteran. Gene was affiliated with the City of Kirkland Fire Department. He was also a member of the Puyallup Valley Japanese American Citizen League, various elementary schools' PTSA, teacher's union, and served as a state officer for the Washington Alliance For Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. Gene was a member of the Tacoma Buddhist Temple and served on the Temple's Board of Directors. Gene is survived by his mother, Toshiko Dogen, Fife, and two nephews, Darren and Brian Takagi, and brother-in-law Robert Takagi of Edgewood, Washington. His father Yoshio Dogen, Fife, and sister, Marianne Takagi, Edgewood, predeceased him. Memorial services will be held January 15th, 2011 at 1:00 P.M. at the Tacoma Buddhist Temple 1717 S. Fawcett Ave, Tacoma, WA 98402-1706. Inurnment will be at the Sumner Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Gene suggested donations be made to the Tacoma Buddhist Temple.