We are sad to share that former OWU faculty member Jann Machotka Ichida passed away Nov. 8. She was 82.
Jann worked at Ohio Wesleyan for nearly 50 years, serving as an Environmental Health and Safety expert and an adjunct professor of Botany-Microbiology. After retiring in 2011, she continued to work in environmental microbiology research and consulting. She concentrated these efforts on applied avian microbiology and composting poultry feathers.
As her family shares, Jann passed “after eight decades of joy and love. … Jann was a teacher of microbiology, swimming, cycling, and white-water boating. She loved line dancing, Tai Chi, and hunting morel mushrooms.”
No calling hours are scheduled, but memories and condolences may be expressed through Snyder Funeral Homes.
Contributions in Jann’s memory are suggested to the O’Neal-Jones-Burns-Shirling Fund at Ohio Wesleyan. Gifts may be made online at www.owu.edu/give, by selecting “Other” in the designation field and typing in “O’Neal Fund for Decker/Ichida Award.” The Jane Decker/Allan Ichida Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement in Botany and Microbiology is named in remembrance of Jann’s husband of 47 years, Allan Ichida ’53, OWU professor emeritus of Botany-Bacteriology. He passed in 2005.
Please join us in offering our sincere condolences on Jann’s passing to her daughters, Audrey and Jennifer, and all of Jann’s family members and friends.
–The Offices of Academic Affairs and Human Resources