Ye n's Obituary
Yen-Foo Chang, 83, of Fayetteville, Arkansas died Sunday, April 17, 2005, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was born March 22, 1922 in China the son of San-Shau Chang and Shieu Chang. He was a Textile Technician before he retired, you could always see him at J. D. China restaurant where he frequented often to visit his daughter.
He is survived by his wife Shiu-Cheng Chang of the home, son; Diego S. Chang of South America, son; His-His Chang of South America, daughter; Jennifer Lee of Fayetteville, Arkansas, son; Yu-Ta Chang of Fayetteville, Arkansas, twelve grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Funeral services will be 10:00 AM; Sunday, April 24, 2005 at the Chapel of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home entombment will follow at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville.
To sign the online guest book go to www.nelsonberna.com
Arrangements are by Nelson-Berna Funeral Home and Crematory of Fayetteville.
Brief Bio of Grandpa Yen-Foo Chang
Yen-Foo Chang
1922 ? 2005
Born in a small village called Balchuen, Shandong Province, China
He was left orphan in his childhood years during WWII along with his six siblings of three sisters and three brothers.
At the age of 13, his 2nd brother and he moved to Qingdao City in hopes to find a better life.
During his teenage years, he devoted his time working hard to support himself and to obtain an education, which back then was considered a priviledge and luxury. He earned a degree in textile and mechanical engineering.
After WWII in 1948, the communist regime rose in China, causing many Chinese nationalists to move to Taiwan, amongst them was Yen Foo.
At the age of 31, he married wife, Shiv-Lhen Liv, whom he spent 52 years with, and together they had 3 sons and one daughter.
In 1967 he was offered a job in Bolivia, South America, a position in a textile factory as an engineer. Unfortunately, due to financial hardship, he could not move his whole family immediately; therefore, he spent the next 9 years working hard to move each family member one by one.
At age 65, Yen Foo retired and moved with his wife to Fayetteville, AR, where his daughter resided. There he spent the most peaceful years of his long, hard life.
Yen Foo Chang is and will be remembered as a loving, forgiving and caring father, friend, and grandfather.
By :Grandaughter, Ninca Chang
Yen Foo Chang
1922-2005
Born in a small village ? Baichuen of Shandong Province China where he lived until he was 13.
--parents died in childhood
--moved out from the poor village to Qingdao City in China not only for better life but
for food. Lived there until 24 years old.
--Like many other Chinese he grew up in WWII.
--Education was a luxury/priviledge for him as to many others.
--From 13 ? 24 he resigned from Q.D. where he worked and studied by 2nd brother?s side.
--6 brothers: 2 died in WWII, 1 died in Chinese Cultural Rev.
--After WWII, the cruel Communist Regime rose.
--He was the only one who could escape to Taiwan.
--One older sister and brother just passed away during the last five years after surviving the Chinese Cultural Rev.
--24 yrs. old when he fled to Taiwan
--31 yrs. married his wife Shiv- Cheng (19 yrs. Old)
--Shiv-Cheng was also an orphan
--they had four kids (3 boys and 1 girl)
--Due to lack of social resource in Taiwan, his career was not successful.
--Life was difficult.
--by 42 yrs., he left Taiwan when youngest son was only 6.
--He got an opp./job in Bolivia, SA as a textile tech. (1967)
--He began his lonely life again there for 9 years.
--Hard time saving money to move the family members one by one to South America.
--He has been dedicated to that career (textile) until 1994.
--Then he moved to the U.S. and retired.
--Lived at his daughter?s side in Fayetteville, AR.
--Until he died, the last 11 years in the U>S. was the compensation of the last half of his life.
--Had the only peaceful period of his life in U.S. as completion to this tough life.
--Every family member respected him not only for hard work but also for his
responsibility as a great husband, and a great father, and a great grandfather.
--Great example for all the following generations.
Characteristics:
--friendly personality
--hard-working
--realistic and down-to-earth
--family oriented
--forgiving/sympathetic
--always helping people
--polite
--not ambitious
--war victim
--1985 he was able to save some money to go back to China to visit his hometown and
built a house for his brother?s son.
--12 grandsons, 6 boys, 6 girls.
--suffering from illness for the last 3 years like many elders
--We know he was happy being surrounded by his children and grandchild.
--The pitiful part for his was probably that the last 5 days of his life was spent by
going thru liver surgery, remaining unconscious, and could not recite his last
will.
--If he was awake, he?d probably like to say goodbye to his wife of 52 years matrimony
and his 4 children and hug all his grandsons.
--As a devoted Bhuddist, the family is rest assured that Bhudda would take care of him
even without being able to say his last words.
--It is safe to assume what he would say.
--He had reached his destiny next to Bhudda.
--Bhuddists believe in reincarnation and we hope his next life is more joyous.
--His body will be passed on to the next generation.
--To us, his is eternal and would always be in our hearts and mind.
By: Veronica Chang
My grandpa?s name is Mr. Yen Foo Chang, and he is really funny, nice, brave and he never got in a fight with my grandma.. And he was born in the year 1922, and he died when he was 83. And the day he died was on Sunday, and he kicks our butt when we walk.
Youngest Grandson
Love,
Vincent Chang
My Grandpa
By Kenton Lee
I don?t have very many memories of my grandpa, but I do know some of his life history. Yen-Fu Chang or my grandpa was born in Pie-Chung, China on March 22, 1922. Growing up for him was tough because he had started working at a young age of twelve. After his child hood, Yen-Fu Chang found and dated the love of his life Shu-Chang liu. When Yen-Fu and Shu-Chang married, they had four wonderful kids. The kids were Diego, His-His, Jennifer, and Daniel. When the kids were born they moved to Bolivia where Yen-Fu Chang opened his own sock making company. Yen-Fu Chang?s kids were happy with Yen-Fu Chang?s performance as a father.
Know when I was born my grandpa was one of the first to see me. I remember the times that he would always play horse with me or tag or whatever game I wanted to play. I think that Yen-Fu Chang did really try to let u have a good time. His standards wee always appropriate but strict. As I grew up my grandpa became weaker and weaker but was still fun to be with. I would take long walks with him whenever he went out. Although I did not understand him for he spoke a language that I hadn?t learned it was difficult to communicate. But, me and my grandpa could easily understand the way each of us felt about each other.
Eventually my grandpa had a stroke and he forgot who I was. But even though I became a complete stranger to him I still loved him and cared for him. I would help take care of him whenever I could. We had lost communication with him but he was still always happy with me. Yen-Fu Chang got worse, and worse. As we all tried to pitch in and help I knew that he was suffering. I felt so bad for him that he was with these people that were like complete strangers to him.
Yen-Fu Chang passed away in Fayetteville, Arkansas on April 17, 2005. I morn over the loss of my grandpa.
Visitation Date Time April 24, 2005, Day of service 9:00 AM till end of service Visitation Location Chapel of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home, 4520 North Crossover, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72703 Service Date Time April 24, 2004 10:00 AM Service Location Nelson-Berna Funeral Home, burial will follow in Fairview Memorial Gardens.
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