Chanh O. Du was born on February 2, 1932 in the Fujian Province of China and passed away on November 30, 2020 at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Lakewood, Colorado. He was 88 years old. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Nghia; six children: Hoa, Cuong, Yen, Tai, Mai, and Lan; 11 grandchildren; a great grandson; and his youngest sister.
Chanh came from humble beginnings growing up in a small farming village in southeast China. With little money and no education, he moved to Saigon, Vietnam and became a successful entrepreneur building his own sheet metal business. Following the Vietnam War, in 1978 Chanh and his family left everything behind and escaped Vietnam by boat ending up at a Malaysian refugee camp for seven months. They resettled in the United States, initially in Coleville, Washington before moving to Lakewood, Colorado.
Chanh had a green thumb and enjoyed growing vegetables, herbs, and flowers in his backyard. He also loved cooking for his family—his signature pan-fried chow mein and fish maw soup were favorites of his children and grandchildren. Chanh lived an extraordinary life devoted to raising a harmonious and loving family.