March 4, 1958 – November 11, 2019
Yong Chue Kue was born on March 4, 1958 in a village called Phoukham in Xiengkhouang, Laos.
He was the oldest son of Youa Pao Kue and Yer Xiong. He has 2 younger brothers, Yia and Sher, and 4 sisters, Ying, Zoua & Yij Yong Yia, Shoua & Yij Chang Dang, and Nhia & Yij Lae.
Like many of us, Yong Chue escaped communist persecution in Laos, survived by many days of walking on foot through the dense jungle, and swam across the Mekong River on a bamboo raft. After a few months living in poverty and hopelessness in the refugee camps in Thailand.
The Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service sponsor Yong Chue and his family to American. They arrived in the United States on May 22, 1980.
In 1985, he worked as a preschool teacher for 5 years. In 1990, he moved his family to Petoskey, Michigan to open up his first business: Chee Pang, a Chinese restaurant. In 1997, Yong Chue sold his business in order to live closer to his relatives in Detroit. In 1998, he worked as a computer teacher in the Detroit Public Schools.
In 2006, he graduated from Baker College with his Bachelor Degree in Business Management.
Yong Chue loved to be involved with the Hmong community. He served as a job recruiter for the Hmong Community, Inc. in the late 1980. In 2003, he was the secretary for the Hmong Community when Nhia Dang Yang was President. In 2017, he was elected as President. He served 2 terms as President of the Hmong Community of Metro-Detroit from 2007-2015.
In 2014, Yong Chue moved to Grand Rapids with his family to start his second business: Bangkok Taste Cuisine. Although he was away from the Hmong Community during this time, his passion to help the Hmong people continued as he helped sponsored and donated to the Grand Rapids Asian Festival.
On January 20, 2019, Yong Chue was diagnosed with stage 4 gastric cancer. It was a sad day as doctors delivered the unfortunate news to Yong Chue and his family. Yong Chue continued to remain optimistic about his life even as he battled with cancer. He had so much to live for. Every time he went in for his chemo treatments, he would always leave with a smile on his face. Throughout the months, Yong Chue was blessed with many friends and family members who would come and visit him. Their presence would brighten his day and strengthen him. Whenever people would ask Yong Chue how he was doing, he would always smile assure his friends and family that he was doing fine despite feeling tired and being in pain. Even when he was sick, Yong Chue would always think about others and care about their well-being.
However, on October 27, Yong Chue’s family received the heart-breaking news that the cancer in his liver was spreading much faster than they had hope for. Yong Chue never allowed the news to make him feel defeated; he fought hard until the end. On Monday, November 11, 2019, Yong Chue’s pain and suffering came to an end. He was surrounded by his family and loved ones the day he passed away.
Yong Chue was described by others as an amazing and kind-hearted person. He is a good friend, a person who is quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to get angry. He always takes every opportunity given when it comes to taking care of others. He built a home that is a safe and welcoming for family, friends, and strangers.
Yong Chue is survived by his wife, Choua Yang and 2 daughters, Victoria Choua & Vauv Rassah and Olivia Pangfoua, and his one son, Tristan Kong Mong. He has 5 beautiful grandchildren, Sophia, Lawrence, Hailey, Lucas and Gwen.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18