Sareth Sam

Sareth Sam age 85, of Des Moines, Iowa, passed away Saturday June 1st, 2024 in Hospice Care.

Sareth was born on August 14, 1938 in Battambang, Cambodia to the late Sow Sam and Juom Dam. He was the youngest of 3 children. He was married to the late Ang Pang for 63 years.

He is survived by his 3 sons, Chak Sam, Cheth Sam (Tida Peov), and Sin Sam (Chandahn). He is survived by his 15 grandkids and 9 great-grandkids.

On January 1, 1957, Sareth married Ang Pang in Battambang, Cambodia. The couple made their home in Battambang where Sareth was a factory worker and Ang was a homemaker and seamstress. Together they had 8 children, 5 girls and 3 boys. Chak Sam, Chan Sam, Cheth Sam, Boun Sam, Eth Sam, Sin Sam, Kim Ean Sam, and Srouk Sam.

In 1975 when the Khmer Rouge invaded Cambodia Sareth and his family fled to Thailand to the refugee camps. After Thailand, they fled to the Philippines where they learned English until they were sponsored to come to America.

In 1983, his family moved to Indianola, Iowa for 1 year and shortly after they moved to Des Moines. Sareth worked at WP Johnson. Sareth would always start his routine making with his favorite morning beverage, (Hot water with condensed sweet milk). During his spare time, he enjoyed listening to Cambodian music, getting together with his family, and watching Mouy Thai Boxing.

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