In Sun Hong

In Sun Hong, age 86, passed away peacefully at home late on May 8, 2021, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Hong, his daughters, Marissa Hong and Carissa Anderson (Dave), his son, Mark Hong (Susanna), and his grandchildren, Julia Godfrey (Mark), Jessica Cammack (Daniel), and Syd Anderson. He is also survived by his younger siblings Im Sun (Lee, Chong Ho), Yoo Sun, Ill Sun (Kim, Hyun Jin), Woo Sun (Han Sook), Yun Sun (Chung, Doo Hwan) and his many beloved nieces and nephews.

In Sun lived 86 amazing, adventurous, and inspirational years. He was born in October of 1934 in Dangjin-si, South Korea to Hong, Sa Chul and Kim, Won Kyung. He grew up in a large family with 5 siblings. In Sun was a mischievous child and caused more than a bit of trouble with his imaginative pranks which earned him the nickname Rice Sack. In Sun began practicing Judo when he was seven years old and it became a wonderful outlet for Rice Sack. He was so talented in Judo that he became the Judo Champion of South Korea in 1954 and continued to practice and teach Judo for many years.

As the Korean War began, he was in Seoul with his mother and his younger siblings. His father got word of the war, and sent his assistant to tell In Sun to take his younger siblings away from Seoul to their family home in Dangjin-si where it would be safer. In Sun carried one of his young siblings on his back and led the others on the journey encouraging them to keep going even though they were all exhausted and scared. They stopped at homes along the way to ask for food and shelter in exchange for money their father had given them for the journey. When they got to the Bay of Assan, they needed to cross by boat instead of attempting the long walk around the Bay. In Sun convinced a fisherman to give them all a ride across the Bay in his fishing boat. As they lay in the boat covered by a tarp, they heard planes fly overhead. The fisherman declared, “The Americans are here!” In Sun recalled feeling such a sense of relief and hope that the US had arrived to help his country and its people.

After fighting in the Korean War, he came to the United States to continue collegiate education at Chico State University in California. Following college he moved to the University of Minnesota to do his graduate work in Physics. Luckily his roommate was dating Barbara’s roommate and they set the two up on a blind date. It wasn’t love at first sight. It was love at second sight! They had a wonderful courtship and married in 1965.

While In Sun built an amazing career at 3M, starting as a bench scientist and retiring as a Vice President on the Executive Conference, he and Barbara raised a family and built their life together. While changing diapers and feeding babies were not In Sun’s forte, coaching soccer and tutoring his children in math and science were his specialties. Throughout his life, he showed Barbara and their children his love by pushing them to always be their best and give life their all. He was a constant caretaker, not in the traditional way, but in his own unique way. He took care of them in every way he could, from giving unexpected gifts, lots of advice and mentoring, scheduling wonderful family dinners, and scheduling fun family vacations. He was a dedicated family man who put family at the top of his priority list.

While at 3M, he also influenced and inspired so many. He worked hard to build an amazing career and to make sure others built their careers too. His leadership and dedication to 3M’s oldest business, the sandpaper business, transformed it into the modern era of superabrasives and microfinishing. He built life-long friendships with so many wonderful people around the world. Those friendships continued long past retirement and into his last days with us. In Sun also founded the 3M Judo Club in 1965. His family loved to go watch him teach Judo at the Maplewood Middle School.

In Sun loved to travel. He traveled for 3M all around the world. In Sun loved to fish and took several fishing trips to Canada and Wonewok with 3M colleagues. After retiring, he and Barbara spent several months of the year in Korea, a month in Hawaii and trips to places like Bali, New Zealand, Italy and England. In Sun continued to enjoy his love of fishing by taking several fishing trips to Canada with his son, Mark, his son-in-law, Dave, and his nephew, Dong Chan Lee. In Sun’s signature trip was a hiking trip he took with several friends and family members who were all in their 70s to hike Annapurna in Nepal. He was exhilarated by the adventure and so proud of his accomplishment.

In Sun was a long-time supporter and board member of the Korean Service Center in Minneapolis, MN. He was most recently Chairman of the Board. This was another place in his life where he focused on taking care of others. The Korean Service Center focuses on caring for Korean immigrants to provide a variety of social services, transition support, wellness, advocacy, and community education.

In Sun was an amazing husband, father, brother, uncle, friend and colleague. He inspired so many and will be greatly missed.

A Memorial Service by Invitation Only (due to COVID restrictions) will be held FRIDAY, May 14, 2021 at The Grove United Methodist Church, 7465 Steepleview Rd., Woodbury. The service will be available to watch via Livestream on the church's YouTube Page by visiting YouTube.com/thegrovemnchurch. It will also be recorded to watch after the service has concluded.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Korean Service Center. For more information on the Korean Service Center and its mission, their website is https://www.kscmn.org.