Chong Yoon

Age 86, died July 5, 2016, in Kalamazoo. Chong was born November 17, 1929, in Kunsan, Korea, the son of Sook Yoon and Tsi Lee. On March 3, 1961, he was united in marriage with Jan Shumaker in Three Rivers. He attended Seoul National University until the Korean War broke out. Then he worked for the U.S. Army as an interpreter for the Eighth U.S. Army. In 1954 he came to the United States and graduated from Oregon State University in 1956 with a BS degree in Chemical Engineering. He received his MS degree from MIT in 1958 and his DSc degree in 1959. Chong began working at the Upjohn Company in 1959 as a chemical engineer and was there until his retirement in 1990. At that time he was Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the Chemical Division. He received the W.E. Upjohn Award in 1969. Chong was a member of the Board of Directors of the Chemical Manufacturers Association and a member of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of the Michigan Chemical Council. After retirement he acted as a consultant for Lucky Goldstar Co. in Korea and did volunteer work with Global Volunteers in Russia and Ukraine. He was a gifted linguist and spoke seven languages. He was a member of Portage United Church of Christ and a long-time member of the Potluck Group. Chong was preceded in death by his parents, a sister and 2 brothers. Survivors include his wife, Jan Yoon; children: Debora (Scott) Grosse of Atlanta GA, David Yoon of Woodside NY and Elizabeth Yoon (Lys Buck) of Brown Deer WI; grandchildren: Robert Grosse, Anne Grosse, Jordan Yoon-Buck and Emlyn Yoon-Buck; and a brother, Chong K. Yoon of Denver CO. Services will be held on Friday, July 8, at 1:00 PM at Portage United Church of Christ, 2731 West Milham Avenue, Portage. Please visit Chong’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo of him and sign his online guestbook. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan, Portage United Church of Christ or the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Life Story Funeral Homes, Betzler – Kalamazoo; 6080 Stadium Drive (375-2900).