Min Chung

A life fully lived

Min Chung was born on September 6, 1928, in the town of Youngkwang, South Korea, under Japanese occupation in the Chinese year of the dragon. His was a family of scholars, and Min was no exception. He always called himself a B+ student, but those who knew him, would give him an A+ in life. He had a big heart and a contagious laugh.

He began medical school at his beloved Yonsei University College of Medicine but his studies were interrupted by the Korean War. He completed his medical degree in 1955, and furthered his education with a master’s degree from Yonsei. He became a beloved faculty member of Yonsei and mentored hundreds of future doctors and nurses. He traveled throughout Southeast Asia with the WHO to treat leprosy. His pioneering work with his professor, Dr. Joon Lew, culminated in the eradication of leprosy in South Korea. Because of the McCarran and Walter Act of 1952, he was able to come to the US in 1963 to study at the University of Minnesota and at Michigan State University to earn his PhD in microbiology. After graduation, he continued his research at the University of Michigan with the intent of returning to Yonsei. By the time he graduated in 1969, he and his wife, Sung-Sil, had 4 daughters, whom they wanted to educate in America. With that in mind, his professor, Dr. Philipp Schwartz, recommended he pursue a pathology residency in the United States. After passing his medical board exams and completing his residency at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, he began practicing medicine in Keokuk, Iowa, as the head pathologist and lab director in 1976 at the Keokuk Area Hospital. He was 48 years old and was able to buy his first house in America for his wife and now 5 daughters on Park Lane. He was living large.

He loved Keokuk, and he loved and mentored all the employees who worked in the lab. He became a pillar in the community, and he became truly Americanized. He joined the Lion’s Club; he held catfish fries in the backyard with his good friend Art Neff; he built a small one room cabin in St. Patrick, MO, where he loved to go and just putter around the lake on his paddleboat. When he retired in 1998, he gave back to the community which had helped raise his family and had given him his career. Most notably, and true to himself, he established a small scholarship at Keokuk Senior High School for a “B+” senior student to attend Southeastern Community College in Keokuk, IA.

When it was time to retire, Min and Sung-Sil said they would retire in any city where there were two daughters, and that brought them to St. Louis. He was not one to sit still, so he got busy as soon as he moved to St. Louis. He joined the Korean newspaper and wrote articles on health and life. He learned how to use a computer. He volunteered at the free medical clinic in University City. He became President of his Yonsei Alumni Association and planned their annual meeting. He and Sung-Sil became active members of the Korean Hope Presbyterian Church. They traveled the world, but mostly, they became full-time grandparents. He was so proud of his eleven grandchildren, his true legacy.

Min never met a stranger, he never hesitated when someone asked for help, and he always showed up. He believed in exercising every day. He loved walking around Shaw Park and he was a fixture at the Wellbridge pool. He enjoyed the numerous beach and hiking vacations with his children and their families. Looking back through photos and remembering countless family gatherings, Min truly had a life fully lived and most definitely fully loved.

He passed away peacefully at age 94 on December 30, 2022. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers and his sisters. He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Sung-Sil; daughter Koong-Nah and husband John Olsen and their children Percy (Michelle Merlin) and Eudora and granddaughter Shoshana (parents Percy and Michelle); daughter Ahn-Chun and husband Paul Min and their children Jaspur (Brad Coleman), Caroline (Max Campbell) and Margaret; daughter Woon-Nah and husband Jim Choi and their children Amanda and Alex; daughter Yun-Ho and husband Rich Sikora and their children Elizabeth and Danielle; daughter Helen and husband David Zwirn and their children Chloe and Hannah; niece Sandy Park and her son, Benjamin; niece Julie and husband David Kim and their children Kaylin and Derek.

The Chung family would like to sincerely thank Thomas Fortel and Parc Provence for providing loving care to their husband, father, grandfather. In honor of Dr. Chung’s memory, donations can be made to support research that will help find a cure for Alzheimer’s. https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/Tributes-AlzheimersChampions?pxfid=785709&fr_id=1060&pg=fund

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kriegshausermortuary.com for the Chung family.