Hongyu Boley

Hongyu Boley (Wang Hongyu)

Hongyu Boley (Wang Hongyu) was born in northern China during the height of the Cultural Revolution.  She was an independent and adventurous child who spent her youth climbing walls, beating up boys, and sneaking off with fresh produce from farm fields.  She displayed her athletic talents at an early age winning running competitions in Beijing and was soon selected to attend one of the top athletic high schools in China.  After graduating from Xiamen University she joined the national rowing team piloting a two person sculling boat in many international competitions. 

Her sense of adventure soon drew her away from China and she traveled four continents at a time when most people in China did not leave their hometown.  She lived in Helsinki, Finland for five years and obtained an MBA degree from the Helsinki School of Economics.  It was there she caught the eye of her future husband who unexpectedly captured her heart and took it to Chicago, Illinois.  In Chicago they built a home together and she earned a second master's degree from Loyola University of Chicago.  They were engaged in Eagle River, Michigan on the shores of Lake Superior and married on the bank of the Kalamazoo River in Marshall, Michigan.  They celebrated the birth of two beautiful girls.

Hongyu dedicated herself to her children, family and friends.  She raised her kids while working full time as a computer application developer in Chicago.  She regularly wrote a blog in China about her life, family, and the cultural aspects of raising two kids in the United States.  Her blog was followed by over a million people in China and she had a network of Chinese mothers who become close friends.  Many of her articles were published in Chinese magazines and her children were often recognized on the street when visiting China.

She found time to continue her athletics through yoga and running every day.  She was an outstanding chef and an expert in Chinese cuisine tantalizing her friends and family with her creations.  She was an artist and started a side-business making jewelry and hand-dyed clothing with her husband and daughters.  She gave herself unconditionally to family and friends and they cherished her.

On August 19th her life was unexpectedly taken after being hit by a car while jogging in Marshall, Michigan.  She again gave herself unconditionally, donating her organs to other families so that their loved ones may live.  She is dearly loved and can never be replaced. 

Surviving are her husband Jon Boley and her daughters Lilja-Aino Boley (age 10) and Jaana-Eeva Boley (age 7) of Chicago, IL, her parents Wang Lirong and Ye Yinping of Beijing, China, her brother Wang Fei of Beijing, China, her father and mother-in-law Frank and Sue Boley of Marshall, Mi, her brother and sister-in-law Aaron and Kristine Morse and nephew Remee Morse of Marshall, Mi, and many family and friends who took her in as their daughter or sister.

Family will be present at a visitation at Craig Kempf Family Funeral Homes, Marshall Chapel, 723 Old US 27 N, Marshall, Michigan on Saturday, August 23 between 3 pm and 6pm.  A funeral service will be held honoring her life at Marshall United Methodist Church, 721 Old US 27 N, Marshall, Michigan on Sunday, August 24 at 2 pm with a reception following. Leave a personal message for the family and sign the online guest book at www.kempffuneralhome.com