Joe Jin Chou

Joe Jin was born on January 12, 1932 in Jiantou Village, Longgang Town, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China, to Chou Hung and Lie Kin Thai. He was the youngest of four children. His oldest sister, Chou Mei Ying married at a young age, and Joe Jin grew up with his sister, Chou Koon Wan, and brother, Chou Jin Pen. Learning to support each other and survive in poor conditions, they built an inseparable lifetime bond that has carried forward through the generations that came after them.

Joe Jin came to Suriname in 1953. He met the love of his life, Lau Jen Foei, and the two were married on October 26, 1957. They had four children, Jean, Monique, Rick and Jozef. The early family years were spent in Zanderij where he owned a general store. In 1965, Joe Jin and his brother partnered to establish Chou’s & Co, a trading company, and later acquired Surpaf N.V., a manufacturing company. Today these companies are owned and managed by their children.

Nothing was more important to him than family and Joe Jin imparted his wisdom to his family at an early age. Two of the most important lessons that he shared and lived by were to invest in relationships and to work diligently without compromising integrity. His teachings, and the example that he set, have led to the close and loving relationships of his children and grandchildren. With his wife nurturing the family, Joe Jin was able to dedicate much of his time to his business and to the community.

Joe Jin was an accomplished man who left a great mark in society, the result of his deep care for the people of Suriname and China, and his desire for promoting harmony and unity of Chinese communities in Suriname. He co-founded NPS Fa Tjauw in 1965 and served as a board member (hoofdbestuur) of NPS. As a strong supporter of the One-China policy, Joe Jin was the driving force in arranging the 25th year celebration of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in Suriname. On October 1, 1974, the Chinese flag was raised at Torarica, an achievement he considers one of his proudest moments. Joe Jin also made great contributions to promoting the development of Sino-Suriname friendly relations from the arrival of the first Chinese ambassador in 1976 until his final days.

Joe Jin served as the chairman of Kong Ngie Tong Sang from 1989 to 1992, and co-founded Fa Tjoek Foei in 1994. In 1999, he co-founded Sociaal Culturele Vereniging Chung Tjauw and served as its chairman for the rest of his life. In recognition of his service, Suriname honored Joe Jin for his many contributions by decorating him as “Ridder in de Ere-Orde van De Palm” in December 2001. With Chung Tjauw, Joe Jin oversaw every step of the construction of the Chinese Cultural Center (Chung Tjauw clubgebouw) to benefit the Chinese community and the people of Suriname. This ambitious project was one of Joe Jin’s more prominent achievements.

Joe Jin always looked forward to spending time with his family, particularly his grandchildren, giving each individual attention and challenging them to excel. He loved to spoil them as well, especially by preparing and sharing mangoes from his special mango trees. Joe Jin loved the sport of basketball. An accomplished player himself in his prime, he was an avid NBA fan and enjoyed watching his grandkids play. His favorite pastime was fishing, and he loved fighting with the feisty koemapari.

In 2010, Joe Jin accepted Jesus as his Savior and Lord, and was baptized the following year as a public declaration of his faith in Jesus.

Joe Jin is survived by his beloved bride of 63 years, Jen Foei Lau, his devoted children, Jean (Arthur), Monique (Arthur), Rick (Nancy) and Jozef (Un), his precious grandchildren, Lianne (David), Mitchel, Ryan (Karen), Michael (Michelle), Brittany, Jada, Coral, Zane and Teal, his three adorable great grandchildren, Avery, Aiden and Mia, and his dear sister, Koon Wan Choy.

A private Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at the Greenwood Memory Lawn Serenity Chapel, located at 719 North 27th Ave, Phoenix, Arizona. A separate Celebration of Life Service will be held in Suriname at a future time.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a NIV)