Hom Lovan

Hom Lovan — an incredible man, loving husband, adoring father, grandfather, and great-grandfather — a passed away at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa, at the age of 86, on Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 3:45 pm.

He was originally diagnosed with Lymphoma in August of 2003, at the age of 78. After surgery, chemotherapy, and several radiation treatments, he was declared free of the disease in 2006. Then, in late 2009, at the age of 84, doctors found evidence that the disease had returned. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation again, which successfully removed the cancer, but left his body frail and weakened, although he kept his spirits high. For two and a half more years, he continued his fight against his ailments and lived as fully as he could with his family, who are so grateful for the extra amount of time they got to spend with him.

He is survived by his wife, Deng Lothi; three sons, Sai, Keo and Chay; five daughters, Bang, Sang, Tong, Diane and Kelly; eighteen grandchildren, Southane, Soukham, Soupradith, Damouk, Ulrich, Kim, Jade, Kenzo, Cristy, Sharky, Richard, Monique, Hunter, Vincent, Erik, Amber, Marky and Jordan; and seven great-grandchildren, Saronno, Stephen, Kaylee, Issac, Kitana, Ian and Mia. He loved everyone in his family very much.

Son of Ern and Banh Lovan, Hom Lovan was born in the North Vietnam capital of, Kwang Son La, on July 5, 1925, in the city of Jian and village of Ban Dut. He had an older brother, two younger brothers, and two younger sisters. His parents and one younger brother passed away in the same year due to an illness that swept the village. He and his remaining siblings were dispersed to live with relatives. He lost contact with them after he was drafted into the French Army in his late teens to fight against the oppression and communist rule of the North Vietnamese in the 1940s and 1950s. He later joined the United States forces that allied with the French and citizens of Vietnam who were against the Viet Cong.

In 1954, he moved to Vientiane, Laos, where he married and raised a family. He immigrated to America in 1981, and in 1983, settled his family here in Des Moines, Iowa, where most of the family continues to live, aside from one son and four grandchildren in France, whom he kept in constant contact with up until his passing. He retired from Steel Works in 1990, and used his culinary skills as a cook in various Asian Restaurants throughout his life.

He was mostly known for his gratefulness to live in a free country, always expressing his gratitude to everyone he came into contact with, and his respectfulness of others. His attention to detail and perfectionist style was noted in all of his undertakings. Although his passing was unexpected, he was surrounded by his loving family. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew him.

An open visitation will be held on Monday, April 9, 2012, at 3 p.m., followed by services at 4 p.m., at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 N.W. 60th Avenue. Call 289-2442 for directions.

Online condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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