Henry W. Cheung

Henry Wai Get Cheung 82, passed away on February 17, 2008. He was a child of Chinese immigrants, becoming a citizen of the U.S. by being born soon after his parents arrived in San Francisco, California in 1925. His family migrated to a family farm in Paw Paw Michigan where his sister, Nancy, and his two brothers, Raymond and Paul and several generations of Cheung's lived. In 1945 his family moved to Chicago's Chinatown and in 1949 Henry met his wife-to-be, Helen Git Ha, in Hong Kong and brought her to Chicago. In 1954, Henry moved his young family to Indianapolis, joining the small community of Chinese and Asian citizens in Indianapolis at the time. Henry and his brothers built up a highly successful restaurant practice in the city. Early in their history they owned American cuisine restaurants by the Union Station called Stone Number One, Lyric Grill next to the old Lyric Theater, and Stone Number Two on South Illinois Street. Their most renowned success was the Chinese American restaurant, the Mandarin Inn at 38th and College, which was in the family for 40 years. At the Mandarin Inn, Henry and Paul took over the restaurant founded by their uncle and expanded it from a small 75-seat ChineseAmerican Restaurant to a 500-seat, highly popular dining destination. Henry and Paul operated the restaurant for 26 years before both retiring from the business and selling it in 1980. They are remembered for their welcoming hospitality and for providing quality food and expanding the popularity of Chinese cuisine in the Indianapolis area. Henry was an Army veteran of WWII serving in Italy. Over the years, he was a member of the Kiwanis and the American Legion. He was a highly active and proud member of the Murat Shrine. His Blue Lodge was Ancient Landmarks 317. He was a member of the Oriental Band, the Jesters, Scottish Rite, Murat Temple and was a 33rd degree Mason. He was Murat Temple's "Man of the Year" in 1981. He will be terribly missed by his wife of 60 years, Helen, who was born in Shanghai China. Henry's three children and their families will greatly miss him: son Jeffrey and daughter-in-law Rosanne, his granddaughter Laura, and granddaughter Emily, her husband Eric, and Henry's great-granddaughter, Gemma; son, Jerry and his wife, Nicolle; daughter, Eva, son-in-law, Don Gary, and Henry's youngest granddaughter Lin. The family would like to especially acknowledge the wonderful, caring and thoughtful care and support Henry received from Dr. Frank Workman and the fine staff at Clarian Hospital North on the 5th floor B wing. Memorial services will be held at Crown Hill Funeral & Cemetery at 700 West 38th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana on Friday, February 22nd. A public viewing will be held at 1 pm and services will begin at 2 pm. Arrangements entrusted to Crown Hill Funeral Home.