Chongkwan Yim

Chongkwan was born on February 18th, 1955 in Seoul, South Korea, son of Won Kyu Yim and Tok Sun Yim (Yum). He served in the South Korean Navy. Chongkwan immigrated to the United States in 1982, where he settled in Methuen, Massachusetts and spent several decades building a life around his family.

Chongkwan demonstrated persistence and hard work throughout his life, and strived to go above and beyond in everything he took on. He was as curious as he was resourceful, and a lifelong learner in every aspect of life. He and his wife enrolled in classes to learn English as a second language, and he thrived in many professional settings throughout his diverse, 40-year career. He and his wife were co-owners of a retail store in Boston, MA before he joined Analog Devices in Wilmington, MA, where he worked for 17 years and earned several promotions. In 2003, he and his wife were co-owners of Garrison City Cleaners in Dover, NH. In 2007, he spent the remaining 16 years of his career as a lead laboratory calibration technician for companies like Rainin Mettler Toledo and PCI.

Beyond his professional achievements, Chongkwan was a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather, and most treasured the time he spent with his wife, children, and grandson. He expressed his love for his family and friends through thoughtful actions, like surprising them with their favorite meals or taking the time to meticulously tailor their clothes to perfection. His generosity extended to his loved ones in many other ways—it was not uncommon for Chongkwan to use his limited days off from work to help his friends and serve as an English interpreter, fix their technological devices, or repair their vehicles.

He enjoyed savoring meals, particularly relishing his wife's homemade Korean dishes, as well as indulging in his love for cars. He had a passion for exploring the world by taking long drives, investing his effort in various home improvement projects, showcasing his singing talents through karaoke, and showing off his impressive skills in ping pong.

In 2018, Chongkwan and his wife relocated to North Carolina. In 2022, he retired to enjoy more time with his family and to become a caregiver to his beloved grandson.

Chongkwan was the best, or chego, husband, father, grandfather, son, and brother, and he will be dearly missed by all who loved him.

Chongkwan is survived by his devoted wife of 40 years, Ogkyeong Yim; daughter, Amanda (Yim) Stevens and husband Sean Stevens and their son Owen of Durham, NC; son, Scott Yim and partner Drew Miller of Brooklyn, NY; sister, Suncha Preston of Methuen, MA; sister, Sunhui Morrison of Chelmsford, MA; sister, Sunok Yim of Seoul, South Korea; sister, Kate Yim and husband Chang Hwan Park of Durham, NC; brother, Chonghun Yim of Andover, MA; and several nieces and nephews.

Chongkwan was predeceased by his father Won Kyu Yim, mother Tok Sun Yim, and older brother Chongtok Yim.

A memorial service for Chongkwan was held Saturday, October 21, 2023 at Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park, 7209 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27612.

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