Our beloved Johnson Woon Chan passed away peacefully with his wife and daughter by his side, on Thursday, May 5, 2022 in Seattle, Washington at 84 years old. Johnson was born February 19, 1938 in Lubuklinggayo, South Sumatra, Indonesia.
Johnson spent his teenage years in, Taishan, Guangdong, China and then moved to Hong Kong to study electrical engineering. Shortly after graduating, he was hired by a Hong Kong naval company as an engineer. Johnson would spend nearly a decade working closely on naval ships before coming to the United States.
In the mid 1970's, Johnson and a few of his siblings (Henry, John, & Silvia) collaborated together to start their own business, the Hong Kong Café Chinese restaurant in Stockton, California. As time when on, the siblings would all move on to have their own families. Johnson was the last to move on from the restaurant, eventually joining his brother John in Michigan, followed by his wife, Shao's arrival in 1984.
Johnson, Shao, and John partnered to open up Jade Garden, in Caro Michigan. Jade Garden was the sibling restaurant to John's restaurant, also known as Jade Garden. Johnson and Shao ran the restaurant from 1990-2001 gaining the love from all their customers throughout the years.
In 1981, Johnson was introduced to his wife, Shao by a mutual friend in Kaiping, China. In 1983, Johnson and Shao went on to get married and have three children, William, Wilson and Eliza. The family relocated to the Pacific Northwest shortly after closing the restaurant and settled into the Issaquah area of Seattle where they have remained ever since.
Upon arrival in Issaquah, Johnson worked as a chef at the Silver Dollar Casino. His fellow employees referred to him as "Cook Michigan". In 2005, Johnson retired and spent his time gardening, tending to his aquarium, listening to Chinese news and opera, as well as enjoying daily walks with his wife around the lake. Johnson was a hard working, humble and resilient figure in the face of adversity. He was person who provided exemplary effort to his work and his family.
He is survived by a loving family: his wife Shao Fang Chan and his three children, Eliza, Wilson and William, his daughter in-law, Brenna, and his granddaughter, 2 year old Ember.
There will be a Celebration of Life held in his honor held on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Greenwood Memorial Park Funeral Home, 350 Monroe Ave Ne, Renton, WA 98056. A graveside service will occur Wednesday, June 1, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Greenwood Memorial Park Funeral Home, 350 Monroe Ave Ne, Renton, WA 98056.
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