Carl M. Kong

To Carl M. Kong, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Carl, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Carl really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Carl was born on October 18, 1917 at home in Fah Yuen Village - Canton, China. His parents were Ying Bin Kong and Pei Ching Lee. Carl was raised in Fah Yuen Village - Canton, China and San Jose, California. Even as a child, Carl had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

Always a good playmate, Carl was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Carl managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Carl was raised with 19 siblings. He had four older sisters, eight younger sisters, and seven younger brothers.

All of Carl's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Carl experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. In his spare time he liked to draw. Carl had excellent handwriting and one of his memorable achievements included handwriting High School Diplomas at the age of 12.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Carl very easy to approach. In February of 1939, Carl exchanged wedding vows with Bow San Lowe at the Community Center in Hong Kong, China. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason Carl related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Carl was blessed with three children: one daughter, Carolyn, and two sons, Marvin and Lendall. He was also blessed with eight grandchildren, Lisa, Jamie, Damon, Arthur, Sandra, Ben, Jeffrey, and Crystal. Carl had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Carl's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Carl had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Carl was a real “people person. ” he had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Carl liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Carl was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Carl's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Carl as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was as a manager and part owner of a butcher shop and grocery store. He was employed as a manager and part owner of a butcher shop and grocery store for over 50 years.

Carl was a U.S. Navy veteran. He was in the Pacific War Zone from 1944 to 1945. Carl saw action overseas for World War II.

Carl enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Carl liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were calligraphy and history. Carl was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Carl felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, Carl loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Carl relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Carl never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. Carl was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were football.

Carl had an endless appetite for new and different activities. He was always ready to join in the fun and add his flair and energy to an organization. Because of his personality, his humor, and his ability to get along with everyone, Carl's service was greatly valued by the organizations to which he belonged. Throughout his later years, Carl was an active member of the Fah Yuen Association and the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce.

A generous person who often wore his heart on his sleeve, Carl often found himself involved in activities he deemed important. He was charitable, kind and giving, qualities that made him a natural volunteer. Outspoken in his beliefs, yet tactful in his dealings with others, Carl served on the committee for the Thanksgiving Parade.

Naturally outgoing and generous, Carl was regularly doing things for others. For him, the gift of giving to others was second nature. Though he never set out to gain individual recognition, Carl was given accolades for his many and varied accomplishments throughout his life. Some of his most prestigious awards included awards for contributing to the Fah Yuen Association.

Living life in the fast lane suited Carl just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included visiting relatives in Hong Kong.

Carl believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 1984, Carl took it in stride as one more way to have fun. Carl remained in San Jose, California, and with his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Carl remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, he found new pleasure in playing Mah Jong with his family and creating his family tree. Even in retirement, Carl continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

Carl passed away on July 14, 2010 at Skyline Health Care Center in San Jose, California. Carl fought a brave and long battle against pneumonia. He is survived by his wife Bow San; his children Carolyn, Marvin, and Lendall; his grandchildren Lisa, Jamie, Damon, Arthur, Sandra, Ben, Jeffrey, and Crystal; his brother Peter; and his sisters Ching Han, Sylvia, Alice, and Jenny. Services were held at Oak Hill Funeral Home in the Chapel of the Oaks. Carl was laid to rest in Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, California.

Carl brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Carl M. Kong lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.