Obituary of Myung Sik Ahn

Our father, Myung Sik Ahn, was born in South Korea in the year of the Tiger. Having waited patiently for a male heir for eight years, his parents, Bong Jun Ahn and Che Bong Park, were elated when Myung Sik came into the world to carry on the yangban family name. He was the eldest son and middle child among five. A story shared among many, his 100 day celebration was bittersweet. The whole family had gathered on a joyous June 25th to create a spread of Korean delicacies when it was suddenly cut short by the sounds of nearby bombs. It was the start of the Korean War and the birth of his spontaneity and thirst for excitement. A rebellious and frisky child, Myung Sik had three loves: Playing marbles. He played until he had holes in his thumbs and had won the marbles of his friends and those in neighboring villages His oldest sister. He thought she was the most beautiful woman in the whole world and followed her around starting from age six acting as her bodyguard Oreo cookies and Ritz crackers. He became friendly with the local priest just to get his hands on these American treats. Since we were born, our house almost always had Oreo cookies and/or Ritz crackers in the pantry. However, as an adult, he loved only one, a woman he professed to be "the only true angel on earth". Myung Sik Ahn married his angel, Young Sook Chung, on January 22, 1978. He passionately loved her for 32 years. The couple was hard-pressed to produce a male heir but alas two daughters were welcomed into the family. His younger brother, Myung Il Ahn, remained a bachelor and had no children. Thus, the Ahn family name was to come to an end and Myung Sik held the responsibility of leaving a final and lasting impression. He vowed to raise his daughters as if they were sons and to ensure that the pride, tradition, and values of the Ahn family lived on through them. In his later years, he told everyone that he would rather have daughters two times over sons. We must have done something right. Myung Sik joined the US Armed Forces in his late twenties. He was a "bowlegged shrimp" and found basic training in Missouri to be the toughest physical activity he ever had to do in his life. He was even hospitalized for exhaustion. But the hardship was overcome with a little help of a jar of kimchi he secretly buried in the forest. His unique sharp-shooting skills earned him the privilege of escaping lines for meals. He served active duty in the 8th Medical Command in South Korea. A Renaissance Man, our dad was multi-talented. He was a beautiful musician: a singer, a songwriter, a producer, and a sound technician. He was a serial entrepreneur starting and closing four start-up companies. He was gifted with his hands with an uncanny ability to understand anything with a simple touch of his fingers. From sewing to cars to stereo equipment to art, he did it, made it, and fixed it. He had the temper of a tiger but the heart of a saint. Everyone knew of his loud bark as he shouted powerfully and often. That was his charm. But what everyone may not know is how big the room in his heart was and how badly he wanted to fill its chambers with love. Our dad was informally diagnosed with stage 4 gastric cancer on January 2, 2012. None of us knew how much time we had left together but we made great use of the time we were given. Family and friends traveled far and wide to comfort, reconnect, and cherish our father in the last four weeks. His sisters Jang Sook Kim and Hyun Sook Lee, his sisters-in-law Hae Sook and Mi Sook Chung and niece Young Mee flew in from South Korea to visit. His great-aunt and great-uncle, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends drove in from California. He never felt so loved and he was extremely grateful to be so lucky. Myung Sik Ahn passed away at 4pm on Monday, February 6, 2012. For the seven blessed family members who witnessed his death, Myung Sik gave an amazing final performance. It was the most heroic, inspiring and beautiful last few minutes. With his big, brown eyes, he acknowledged and thanked each person in the room and ended his life with a great big smile. We will honor our father's life at a memorial service on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 3pm at Kraft-Sussman, 3975 S. Durango Drive, Suite #104, Las Vegas, NV 89147. He will be placed at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Cabrillo Memorial Drive, San Diego, CA 92166. A committal service with the military honor guard will be held at the national cemetery on President's Day Monday, February 20, 2012 at 1:30pm. We ask that any flower deliveries be made to Kraft-Sussman on Friday, February 10 or at 2pm on Saturday, February 11. Thank you for your loving thoughts and prayers. We are overwhelmed by all of your love and support. Love, Su and Julie Ahn