Sieng Van Quang

Sieng Van Quang, wise among many, was a man who lived by the tradition of his culture. He was a hero to his sons, daughter, daughters-in-law, grandsons and granddaughters and a devoted husband. He began his life in 1948 in the town of Son La, Vietnam, born to the amazing Yen and Pau Quang.

He migrated to Vientiane, Laos at 19 years of age when he entered the Teaching School of Dong Dok in 1967. He graduated in 1971 and then taught English as a second language for one year before enlisting the U.S. Army from 1972 through 1973 in the Secret Army Special Guerilla Unit & Airborne Unit. Upon his return to civilian life in 1974, he became an accountant for a hotel in Vientiane. This was when he would catch the eye of his sweetheart, Chiao. Together, they would create a life they never would have imagined possible.

Sieng and Chiao married at the end of 1976 and they would later welcome their first born son, Ket, in 1977. Their second son, Phet followed in 1978 and their first baby girl, Phone arrived in 1980. That year, the skies rained of heavy artillery as they fled from Laos to a refugee camp in Thailand where they stayed for 3 months. They then migrated to the Philippines where they lived for another 6 months awaiting sponsorship. At that point a sponsor brought them to the great country of the United States of America in the summer of 1981.

With no money, a wife and three boisterous, young children and hardly any clothes on his back, he ambitiously pursued a degree at Indian Hills Community College. At this time, his youngest son, Charles was born in 1982. He received an Associate Degree for Machine Operator in 1983 where he was on the Dean’s List in two consecutive years. He then went to Hamilton Business College to receive a Computer Aided Drafting degree in 1992, also receiving recognition on the Dean’s List. He was a career Machinist, working tirelessly to provide a better life for his family under the employment of Clow in Oskaloosa, Thombert Inc. and Cline Tool in Newton and ending his work life at PPI in Pella where he retired in 2009.

He threaded his ambition into his children, always teaching them education before a social or love life. His children were as stubborn as he was, for they desired the American lifestyle. He always believed higher education was the key to a door to many opportunities. He bet all in on his children with his little wealth and a lot of sweat and tears to give them a better life. His hope was to give each one of them a path to a successful life. They’ve become independent and are now providing lives for their own children in the way the he never had. They’ve made their parents proud as Sieng and Chiao’s hopes and dreams for their children have come to true.

He enjoyed firing shells from his 12 gauge shotgun in the farmlands of Raymond Walker, his sponsor in Rose Hill. He also had a love for fishing and took his children to Lake Red Rock where in a memorable moment, one of his sons almost set fire to the location they were fishing at. Among his notoriety in the Thaidam/Laotian community, he thrived on being around friends and family. You could find him adoring your presence on any given weekend, whether at your wedding or your children’s wedding, social gatherings or the mourning of your loved ones. If you couldn’t find him in any of these places, he and his wife could be found in Tama eating crab legs or playing the slots. They traveled to many places, gazing at the lights of Las Vegas, racing the tides of the Atlantic Ocean and enjoying the great landscape of Mount Rushmore. Sieng lived a life of an extraordinary purpose.

As all greatness begins, one must also end. In an unfortunate turn of events, he departed this world at the age of 67 on the morning of April 24, 2015. He left peacefully in his sleep, his loving wife by his side.

Sieng’s legacy can be told by those he left living; his wife Chiao Quang, sons Ket (Tosha) Quang, Phet (Sarah) Quang and Charles Quang and daughter Phone Quang along with 5 grandchildren with 1 due in June 2015; his step-mother Kou Quang; his sisters Bien Leuang, Viet Thong, Die Kouang, Manh Vorasith, Mie Godoy and Boun Schubert and over 30 nieces and nephews. He now joins his father and mother, Yen and Pau Quang, and his brother Bic Quang and sister Phin Quang to tell the story of his great life and where he will be waiting to greet you with a smile.

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