Chi Hun Yi

Hospital after a courageous fight with cancer. He was born in Seoul, Korea to Song Kwan and Su Tok Yi, and moved to the U.S. at 9 years of age. He attended Blue Springs schools and graduated BSHS in 1984. After 3 years in the U.S. Army he attended San Francisco State University. While in San Francisco he also met the love of his life, Fabiola Murillo. The two married in San Francisco on March 7, 1994, accompanied by their fur-covered maid-of-honor, Kaluha the Doberman-Labrador mix.

The couple enjoyed their time living in Alaska, working in the fisheries industry and sharing their life and home with various friends.

Chi later worked at Fike Metals and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, as a sales and marketing rep, a translator and liaison, a financial advisor, and a business manager, eventually becoming President and owner of Soluna Medical, which he ran together with his wife.

Chi was a great lover of music, and would mesmerize audiences at his home and wherever else he happened to be, performing on the guitar and with his beautiful voice. He enjoyed exercise, completing several marathons and the 45 mile Brew-to-Brew run from Kansas City to Lawrence, KS. He also enjoyed gardening, caring for his dogs Taos (his canine son), Happy (the unhappiest dog in the world), Taz (Satan’s daughter) & Mr. (or Mrs.) Peeps, and especially spending time with his family and his ever-expanding circle of friends.

He was an outstanding, father, husband, friend, son, brother, uncle, student, soldier and citizen, receiving various awards and honors, including the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal and Good Conduct Medal, and he earned special recognition as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Golden Key Honor Society and People-to-People Student Ambassadors. He also served as Vice President of the Korean American Society of Greater Kansas City.

Chi is survived by his wife Fabiola, his daughter Pamela Camille, his mother Su Tok Yi, Sisters Yong Son Gagnon and Un Chong Yi-Christopher, sister-in-law Young Ok Yi, brother-in-law Gene Patrick Gagnon and Charles Edward Christopher, nephews Geoffrey Patrick Gagnon, Michael Thomas Gagnon, Thomas Joseph Gagnon, Benjamin Jongwoo Yi and Eddie Li Christopher nieces Anne Laura Gosoroski, Un Joo Alison Li Christopher and Rebecca Jane Yi, great-nephew Walter James Gosoroski, and great-niece Chloe Christine Gagnon. He is preceded in death by his father Song Kwan Yi, his brother Sang Yi, grandmother Dam Rang Shim and nieces Faith Li, Hope Li, and Charity Li Christopher.

A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, May 9th, 10:00 a.m., at McGilley State Line Chapel, with burial following in Leavenworth National Cemetery, 150 Muncie Road, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 8th, at McGilley State Line Chapel, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Education Fund for Pamela Camille Yi, payable to Fabiola Yi.