Yek Yew Choo

On Tuesday, January 5th, 2021, Yek Yew Choo, father of four children and grandfather of three, passed away at the age of 89 in Orange County, California. Yew Choo was born on December 21st, 1931 in Dabong village inKelantan, Malaysia, to Daniel Yek and Wong Kam Yin. His father passed away when he was still a child, compelling him to travel with his teacher to Penang, Malaysia, at age 11 to seek his own fortune. He survived the hardship of World War II, and although he did not finish his secondary education, Yew Choo found success in commerce, rising to the upper ranks of sales and management with the German-based conglomerate, Behn Meyer. On January 24th, 1956, he married Penang-born Ong Keng Yeow. They raised three sons, Dan, John and Stephen, and a daughter, Grace. Yew Choo firmly believed in the value of scholarship, and made sure his children got their passports to life through education. All four of his children have advanced university degrees, one of whom is a doctor of medicine. Fondly known as “Mr. Yek” by his friends and associates, Yew Choo was a natural-born leader, often calling the shots in one of the nearly ten languages and dialects in which he was fluent. He was a sportsman, whose prowess in badminton was only a stone’s throw away from the state championship. Yew Choo was an avid fisherman, often venturing into the deep sea to nab the big ones that didn’t get away. In his later years, he even took a course in electronics and tinkered his way into a homemade transistor radio. Yew Choo was a man ahead of his time who often gathered family and relatives alike on weekend excursions around the island of Penang. He was fun-loving, delighting his wife and those around him with his alacrity in ballroom dancing. At age 75, he dived right into the limbo rock at his Golden Anniversary reception. Yew Choo was a loyal and devoted husband who took care of his wife in her later years when her health began to fail. Just as much, he was a stalwart and dutiful father who was fully committed to his children. Yew Choo traveled many miles in his lifetime, from his relocation to Penang in his early years, to his days as a budding salesman, driving through the jungles and remote villages throughout Malaysia. In his eighties, Yew Choo bravely logged another 10,000 miles. He immigrated to the United States with his wife to join their children. Yew Choo was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Ong KengYeow, and his brother, Paul. He is survived by his sister, Deborah, his four children, Dan (Choy), John, Stephen (Theresa) and Grace (Jay), and his grandchildren, Surn Lee (Tanya), Surn Yee and Victoria. Yew Choo leaves behind an inspired legacy and will be deeply missed. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January30th, 2021 at the Memory Garden, Brea, California at 1:00 p.m. PST. Zoom has been set up for family and friends to attend the Funeral Service below. Mr. Yek Yew Choo Funeral Service Saturday January 30th, 2021 • Times are in Pacific Standard time zone Zoom Video Connection: MEETING ID: 835 8616 8751 PASSCODE: 730607 Time Itinerary for Service 12:45 - 1:00 pm Check in for service. Note: Relatives/Co-workers/Friends attending virtually, do connect in early. 1:00 - 1:10 pm Reverend Jeff Goeser Introduction & Welcome 1) Reading of Eccles. 3:1-8 2) A hymn “Be Thou My Vision” 1:10 - 1:40 pm Eulogy: General Tribute (per emailed tribute guide doc.) read by Rev. Jeff or allocated sibling Personal Tributes/Memories of siblings- Dan, John, Stephen, Grace 1:40 - 1:55 pm Video Tribute 1:55 - 2:15 pm 1) Homily- Words of Comfort: I Thess. 4, II Cor 5, Phil 2 2) A hymn “Dear Lord & Father of Mankind” 3) Psalm 23 – “The Lord is my Shepherd” closing blessing by Rev Jeff 2:15 pm Contemporary song “You Raise Me Up” (Share Screen- Audio)

Tributes

Yek Yew Choo

December 21, 1931 - January 5, 2021