May Vang Yang

Yang, May Vang

May Vang Yang, 83, of Wausau, passed away peacefully while surrounded by family on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 after a brave battle with multiple health issues. She was under the care of the Evergreen Unit, Mount View Care Center, and Asera Care Hospice Service.

May was born on January 5, 1930 in Laos to the late Chang Ying and Kim Xiong Vang. She married Xong Mang Yang in 1952 and had four sons and six daughters. They were blessed with 47 years of marriage until Xong Mang's death on November 12, 1999. During those blessed years, they fought in the Secret War in Laos, fled after the CIA pullout via the Mekong River and were one of the first Hmong families to immigrate to the Wausau area. The family arrived in November 1978 through the generous sponsorship of Salem Lutheran Church.

May enjoyed cooking, sewing and stitching "paj ntaub", gardening and caring for her grandchildren. She was a caring, witty, loving, and very independent woman who could be stubborn at times. She attended church services regularly at the Hmong American Community United Methodist Church, was social and had many friends and close relatives. Even after her diagnosis, May continued to be a hard-worker; she loved her vegetable and flower gardens and was a vendor at the local Farmers Market. She was a very kind woman and was often seen giving away her produce.

Survivors include ten children and 50+ grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Sons include Tou (Ethel) Yang, Eau Claire; Ka Ying (Sua) Yang, North Carolina; Ka Phout (May) Yang, Wausau, and Joseph Yang, Wausau. Daughters include Chia (Keo) Yang, North Carolina; Pang (TuamThawjFeebXwm) Vang, Green Bay; Khoua (Chuck) Yang, Wausau; Naly (Chue) Yang, Wausau; Manee (Thavone) Vongphakdy, Wausau, and Jennifer Yang, Mosinee. Her surviving sibling includes her brother and sister-in-law, Neng Chue and Pang Vang.



Funeral services will be held at Buettgen Funeral Home, 900 Old Hwy 51, Mosinee, from Friday, August 2nd until Sunday, August 4th with daily visitation from 9 a.m. until midnight. Pastor Cher Pha Her from Hmong American Community United Methodist Church and special guest Pastors will officiate nightly services at 6 p.m. Final visitation will be held on Monday, August 5th at 10 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1101 Elm St., Wausau, followed by service at 11 a.m. and burial at Friedenshain Cemetery. John J. Buettgen Funeral Home is assisting the family.

To our loving mom - thank you for your unconditional love, nurture, support and guidance. Not a day will go by where we won't think of you or miss you. You will forever remain in our hearts. This is not good bye. We will all be reunited in Heaven.

Peb nam tug zoo, peb hlub hab ncu koj heev. Moog zoo koj mag.