Yit Yee Kung's Obituary
Yit Yee Kung, devoted husband, loving father, and doting grandfather, passed away peacefully and went home to be with the Lord on October 21, 2021. He was 94 years old and he celebrated his 95th birthday in heaven 11 days later. He is survived by his loving wife, Lai Wan Seto Kung, to whom he has been married to for 74 years; and by his 5 children and 6 grandchildren, Sue (Jonathan, Joshua), Pak (Susan, Christopher, Jameson), Polly (Chuck, Kristina), Chun, Sherrie (Jim, James).
Yee, affectionately known by his friends and relatives, was born on November 1, 1926 in Canton, China, to Mun Jun Kung and Sam Mui Chan Kung. As a young man, he joined a merchant marine ship to work and to travel. During World War II, his ship was detoured to India where he learned his culinary skills. He returned to China in 1947, married Lai Wan, and settled in Hong Kong where he worked as a chef and was a partner in a restaurant.
In 1963, Yee along with his wife and 4 children immigrated to the United States and Sherrie, his youngest child, was born 4 months later. He worked as a chef in San Francisco and later settled in Stockton where he was the executive chef of the famed Islander Restaurant. He then opened his own restaurant, Kum Ling, which he named in honor of the chef and mentor who helped him refine his culinary skills when he was in India. Kum Ling was known as a favorite spot for many in Stockton’s downtown and financial district as well as a favorite among the Asian community for banquets serving up to 500 people. Yee operated and owned the restaurant for more than 17 years and he retired after his youngest child graduated from college.
Yee loved life and his family, he enjoyed traveling, good food, family gatherings, investing in the stock market, early morning walks, and socializing with his friends at the local mall. His travels included visiting relatives in the East Coast and in Southern California, swimming in the sandy beaches of Hawaii, and touring China, visiting Beijing with a tour of the Great Wall and visiting the Pandas in the Beijing Zoo, Shanghai, Xian visiting the display of the terracotta army, Guilin with a boat tour on the Li River sampling the local cuisine along the river, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong.
To his wife Lai Wan, Yee was a loving, caring, and supportive husband who was her strength and her companion in life; to his children, he was a devoted family man who nurtured and encouraged all his children to graduate from college and be contributing members of society; to his grandchildren, he was a doting grandfather who always greeted them with a warm smile, always made sure they had something to eat, and always enjoyed spending time with them. His legacy of hard work, honesty, and generosity will carry on through his children and future generations.
Yee had made many friends along his life journey and he will be remembered for his love of life, his dedication to his family, his warm smile, generosity, and hospitality. The family is comforted knowing that Yee is now in heaven enjoying his golden years, they will miss him until they meet again in heaven.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, December 4, 12:30 pm, at Skylawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park.
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