Shu-pei Chang, 98, Carmel, Indiana, formerly of Peoria, Illinois passed away on Monday, November 9th, 2020 due to Covid and its complications. He was born October 11th, 1922 in Jiangmen, China. He was the first born son to Chang Ji Ru. His mother died when he was young during the Chinese Civil War. In 1946, he graduated from Chaking University with a chemistry degree and moved to Taiwan to work at the Taiwan Sugar Company. He worked very hard and was able to earn a scholarship to attend the University of Louisville to study polymers and obtain a Ph.D. in Chemistry. In 1959, he came to America on a plane that carried many Chinese students that were coming to study in the U.S. He finished school in 1964 and got a job at the USDA in Peoria, Illinois as a research chemist. It was during this period that he asked a friend about a young lady, Jean, and they started dating. She had actually been on that same plane that brought them to the U.S. In 1969, Jean and Shu-pei got married in Pittsburgh. They moved to Peoria to start a family and life together. In 1973 they had their first child, a daughter, Tina. The next several years were filled with many car trips to Florida, California, Yellowstone, Mt, Rushmore, Washington, D.C. Shu-pei retired in 1987 from the USDA after working there for 25 years. He had done significant research on Jojoba Oil during his time there. After retiring, he continued to learn by taking classes at the local college on electronics, computers, and handyman repairs. Jean and Shu-pei worked hard to save money for their family by buying and renting out rental apartments. Also in his retirement, he continued to enjoy traveling to Europe, China, U.S., South America, and Australia and his hobby of photography. When he had the chance, he would visit China to see his dad, brother, sister, and nieces that still lived in Jiangmen. He supported them for many years and loved his family dearly. In 2003, he had the honor of walking down his daughter, Tina, to get married to his son in law, Jason. To this day, he claims that he had the best speech at the wedding. In 2004 he became a grandfather to Gavin, followed by a granddaughter, Mia, and lastly another grandson, Cole. He loved seeing his grandchildren, watching them play their sports, and chasing after them. Shu-pei, unfortunately, with age developed Alzheimer’s Dementia. He would forget daily things but always would know who his wife and daughter were. He was able to celebrate his 51st wedding anniversary in August 2020. He is survived by his wife, Jean, daughter Tina (Jason) Fleming of Carmel, grandchildren, Gavin, Mia, and Cole Fleming, sister (Deng Chang Mei Lang) , brother (Chang Shu-ping), and nieces (Deng Yan Hong, Deng Yan Juan, and Chang Bi Wu) and a grandniece and nephew all of Jiangmen, China.
A private service will be held at the family’s request.
Shu-pei, my dad, was the smartest dad I knew. He was handsome, loved to play and watch basketball, learned how to perform magic tricks, was a die hard University of Louisville Denny Crum fan, loved to dance and sing, loved to swim in the summer with Tina, was so proud of her becoming a doctor, and so supportive of his family which was all still back in China. Even though he was 50 when I was born, he and I share many traits like a love of photography, travel, and sports. I am proud to be his daughter, will miss him dearly, and will love him forever.
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