Somphong Kitthikoune

Somphong Kitthikoune, age 74, of Des Moines, Iowa passed away peacefully on Monday, October 3, 2022 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. Somphong was born on May 3, 1948 in the Muang Khong district of Champasak, Laos. He was one of six children.

Somphong went to a Chinese school until the sixth grade. The Chinese school he was attending did not have a high school, so he went to a Laotian school to study Laos and French. After high school, around the year 1972, he was working in a pharmacy in Vientiane where he met his wife, Sy Kitthikoune—there, they had three girls. He escaped from Laos to Thailand, and spent time in Ubon and Phillipine camp.

In 1981, he started a new chapter in Des Moines, Iowa. He worked over 20 years in the Des Moines Public School where he was loved by many. He retired in 2015, where he spent a lot of time watching over his grandchildren.

Somphong had a passion for Mahjong, FreeCell, and fishing. He was a caring father and active grandfather. Somphong is survived by his wife, Sy Kitthikoune; three daughters (and spouses), Manivanh (Jason), Manivong (Dub), Manivone (Frankley); one son, Somwong (Jessica); and seven grandsons and one granddaughter.

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