Paul Wen-Shen Wang, MD

Wang, Paul Wen-Shan, MD 10/14/1929 - 2/25/2019 Richland Paul Wen-Shan Wang MD, of Richland, Michigan, died peacefully surrounded by his loving family at Blodgett Hospital in East Grand Rapids, on February 25, 2019. Born on October 14, 1929 to Shang-Yi and Harriet Shin-Yin (Yuen) Wang in Canton, China, Paul recounted tales of his boyhood village home with earthen floor and lychee trees in the front garden. During the Second Sino-Japanese war, he and his family fled to Chungking where he came into contact with Catholic Missionaries and secured a scholarship to the University of Portland in Oregon. In 1948 at the age of 19 and speaking little English, he arrived and successfully completed his undergraduate degree. He then moved to Ann Arbor to complete an MBA at the University of Michigan. After a stint in management at General Motors, he changed careers to pursue a medical vocation. In 1961 he married Esther Chun-Fong Chu, who supported him throughout his studies at the University of Michigan Medical School, and during his Dermatology Residency. He and his young family then moved to join Dr Robert Grekin, another diehard U of M fan, as a partner at Kalamazoo Dermatology PC where Paul practiced for nearly 45 years. Paul not only had a long and successful career as a Dermatologist --any outing into Kalamazoo inevitably resulted in surprise greetings from longstanding patients or their families--but he also was a highly accomplished Chinese scholar, collector and artist. His creativity and talent manifested as traditional Chinese brush and ink landscape, floral and figurative painting; as well as calligraphy, considered a high form of art combining language, poetry and visual beauty. Reflective and curious, he was often found with his nose in an aged Chinese text, marking and underscoring meaningful phrases for his own personal study. His remarkable life experiences and inquisitive mind resulted in a unique philosophical approach to life. Combined with his humorous, affable and generous nature, Paul had a positive impact on all those he met, easily conjuring a smile and often leaving a warm lasting impression. His irrepressible optimism and good nature sprung from his fixed firm belief that in life, he was lucky and blessedand so he was. His devoted family was blessed indeed for having such a special man in their lives. Paul was pre-deceased by his beloved wife of 50 years, Esther and his dear brother David. He is survived by: his loving children Timothy (Molly) Wang of East Grand Rapids and Tamara (Chris) Griffiths of Manchester, England; his doting grandchildren Leopold and Bennett Wang, and Caitlin and Georgina Griffiths; his devoted sister Mae O'Young (Seattle, WA); his second wife Tiana Fucong Tian; and sisters-in-law Katie Wang (Tustin, CA) and Linda Tsui (Falls Church, VA) and; a number of wonderful nieces and nephews. Paul's family will receive friends from 10:30 - Noon on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home Richland Chapel, 9170 East D Avenue, Richland, MI 49083. A service celebrating Paul's life will follow, with subsequent committal and internment at Prairie Home Cemetery, Richland, MI. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com. Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care Richland Chapel