Obituary of Kang-Yong YOOUN

July 27, 1945 – Chuncheon, Kangwon Province, South Korea

January 19, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

Kang-Yong Yooun beloved husband of Hwa-Soon Yooun (nee Lee) of Calgary, AB, passed away on Sunday, January 19, 2020 at the age of 74 years.

Kang-Yong was born in Chuncheon, Kangwon Province, South Korea on July 27, 1945.

As a child Kang survived the Korean War, which claimed his father, and separated Kang from his mother and siblings for several months. Later, as a young man Kang served in the South Korean Marine Corps for 3 years - which he feels instilled in him the grit and tenacity that would underpin his incredible work ethic.

In 1971 Kang emigrated from South Korea to Germany, where he worked in the Ruhr Valley as a mining technologist. Through mutual friends he met the love of his life, Hwa-Soon Lee, who was a nurse in Hamburg.

Soon recalls her first encounter with Kang, "I didn’t care much for his face, but his voice won me over. When he sang, it made me feel wonderful." They married in 1974, and shortly after were expecting their first child. At the time, Germany did not grant citizenship to non-Germans, so when a recruitment officer for McIntyre Coal Mines in Grandcache, Alberta offered Kang an opportunity, they immigrated to Canada. Their daughter, Linda, was born in 1975 shortly thereafter. In 1977 they had their second child, Grant.

Always restless in nature, Kang decided it was time to move to a bigger city. In 1981 the Yooun’s moved to Edmonton. With Kang’s natural ability to connect with people and Soon’s talent for cooking, they opened a delicatessen. Despite their efforts, their business did not flourish, and they were caught in an economic recession and had to close their business.

In 1982, they moved to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, where Kang worked at Con Mine for 18 years. In 1999, he went into early retirement after falling fifty feet; sustaining permanent injuries.

He spent his retirement years in Calgary where his children went to university. It was in Calgary, at the tender age of 54, Kang pursued his remarkable talent and passion for golf – within a few years becoming a single handicap player. Confederation Park, McCall and most recently, Fox Hollow were the places he frequented. Always quick to make new friends and make fellow golfers laugh.

Kang accomplished much through his life and was particularly proud of building the magnificent house that he died in. He came to Canada with very little and worked very hard and under dangerous conditions all his life, saving as much as he could so that he could provide a legacy to his children and grandchildren.

Kang will be most remembered for his warmth, kindness, generosity, and patience.

Besides his loving wife Hwa-Soon, Kang-Yong is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Michael McCullough of Calgary, Alberta; son and daughter-in-law, Grant and Lisa Yooun of Calgary; four grandchildren, Kenneth, Kaitlyn, Theodore and Grace, Calgary, Alberta.

Kang-Yong is also survived by his sister who lives in South Korea; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, Calgary, AB), on Friday, January 24, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. Graveside Service to follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery. Reception to follow at GOGI Korean BBQ (2320 4 St NW, Calgary, AB) Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Kang-Yong’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

A tree will be planted in living memory of Kang-Yong Yooun. McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH, CALGARY, AB, T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-243-8200.