Kenneth Kon Horne Jang

Ken Jang passed away peacefully on May 16, 2024 at Wing Kei Greenview Care Centre. He was born on July 7, 1933 in Sun Wui, Guangdong, China. He was 17 years old when he immigrated to Canada in 1950 to join his father. Over the next two decades, Ken’s mother and two sisters followed.

Ken attended Mount Royal College but quit the next year to assist his father, who had just opened the Sun On Food Store in southwest Calgary. In 1956, Ken and his father opened a coffee shop adjacent to their grocery store. This started his life-long career in the food and restaurant industry. The business became a family affair with Ken’s father, mother, sister and brother-in-law all involved. During this time, Ken devoted himself to improving his English skills while he worked 10-12 hour days, seven days a week to make the business successful. Along the way, he met Ann Gee. They married in 1959 and four children were born between 1960 and 1964. While Ann remained at home to tend to their growing family, Ken continued to take on increasing responsibility at Sun On, ultimately assuming management of the food store and coffee shop in 1962. The business expanded to a larger location in 1968 and operated until the business was sold in 1980. Ken then became partners with Jack and Larry Kwong at Food-Vale grocery until he retired in 1997.

Despite working long hours to provide for his family, Ken and Ann devotedly raised their children. He extended this same love and attention to his seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He was immensely proud of all of them.

Throughout his life, Ken had a keen interest in music and in 1960, he and nine friends formed the Calgary Wah Kiu Musical Society where he enjoyed playing the violin and erhu for many years. Ken was also very active and well known in the Calgary Chinatown community. In the early 1990s, he helped to establish the Wu Yi Association of Calgary, acted as the treasurer for the Calgary Chinese National League and was a member of the western branch of the Canton University Alumni Association. Ken became an avid sports fan over the years and for several decades had season tickets to the Calgary Stampeders.

Throughout his family, work career and extracurricular activities, Ken was known for putting others first. He was the ultimate gentleman and approached everyone with a kind, generous spirit. He always had a smile on his face. He will be dearly missed.

Ken was predeceased by his wife Ann in 2012. He is survived by his four children Mary (Dick) Quon, Lillian, Edward (Theresa) and Henry (Lee); grandchildren Jeffrey (Tina), Phillip (Edward), Andrea (Trevor), Bryan, Allison (Justin), Mackenzie and Elizabeth; and great grandchildren Zachary, Evan, Amy and Jake.

Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at a visitation to be held at Foster’s Garden Chapel, 3220-4 street NW, Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Monday, May 27, 2024 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. A Celebration of Life will be held at Foster’s Garden Chapel on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 10:00 am. The Family would like to express gratitude to Dr. Rene Ho and the staff at Wing Kei Greenview for their many years of supportive and compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made directly to Wing Kei Care Centres https://www.wingkeicarecentre.org/.