Hankey Mhoon

Hankey Mhoon (1935 – 2026)

Hankey Mhoon, 91, passed away on March 1, 2026, at Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview, Illinois. He was joined in his final hours by his devoted daughter and son-in-law, who remained by his side until the end. He returns now to his Lord and to his beloved wife of 63 years, Hirae, whom he followed just 72 days after her passing.

The First-Born Son

Born in Seoul, Korea, in 1935 to father Mhoon Soo Yong and mother Yoo Sam Deuk (recorded as Kim Si Hyon), Hankey held a position of solemn importance as the first-born son. He was the eldest son in a long, unbroken line of first-born sons in the House of Mun Ik-jeom, the 14th-century scholar and diplomat. Hankey carried this heritage with a deep sense of responsibility; even as he pursued his own education and career, he remained steadfast in his duties, providing a comfortable living for his parents for the remainder of their lives. This devotion to his lineage was a cornerstone of his character and influenced the timing of his eventual journey to America.

A Life of Resilience and Ambition

His youth was marked by incredible survival. During the Korean War, a teenage Hankey twice faced North Korean firing squads, saved each time at the last moment by soldiers who recognized him. During the height of the conflict, he made the courageous decision to leave the location of safety where his family had fled, traveling back alone to Seoul to seek employment with the Eighth US Army. Though he started as a teenage scullery boy, he quickly worked his way up, earning the respect of the men he served alongside. This period sparked his lifelong love for the American people and the ideals of individual liberty and innovation.

Academic Foundations and Career in Korea

Hankey was a scholar who supported himself entirely through college, working a variety of jobs to fund his education even while receiving academic scholarships. He attended Midong Primary School and Cheongwoon Middle School before graduating from Gyeonggi Commercial High School in 1955. He went on to earn his B.S. in Pharmacy (1959) and his Master of Science in Analytical Chemistry (1961) from Sung Kyun Kwan University (SKKU). He was part of the first class admitted into the pharmacy PhD program, and his Master's dissertation was titled: Spectrophotometric Determination of Cobalt with O-Tolidine.

His professional life in Korea was a blend of academia and industry. He served as an Assistant Instructor at SKKU from April 1959 until February 1962, followed by a position as a Lecturer in Analytic Chemistry until October 1963. He also owned and operated a small pharmacy in Seoul before founding Shin Jin Commercial Co. in 1969 to house his engineering interests. A natural inventor, he held patents in telephony and touch-tone systems in Korea and engineered a factory-level rice cake machine for his brother that was utilized in Chicago for decades.

A Career of Service in Chicago

On January 8, 1974, Hankey immigrated to the USA. He began his American career as a Pharmacy Technician, becoming a Pharmacist Apprentice after passing his first board exam. He served at the Illinois Central Community Hospital (ICCH) from 1974 to 1978. In 1978, he opened Moon's Pharmacy in Albany Park, which he owned and operated for 15 years. In 1992, he joined the staff at Cook County Hospital as an in-patient pharmacist, where he served for two decades until his retirement around 2012.

Throughout his American career, he continued to invent, eventually holding US patents in water purification and internet transaction protocols.

A Life Defined by Joy and Generosity

Beyond his professional life, Hankey was a man of vibrant spirit. He was an expert in ballroom and swing dancing, a skill he began honing in college when he taught young nurses. Throughout his life, he and Hirae were a fixture on the dance floor at social functions, their grace and energy so infectious that their daughter jokingly recalls asking them to "tone it down" at her own wedding. He took great pride in his appearance, possessing a love for bright colored shirts as well as a deep appreciation for his formal attire and suits.

Hankey was a self-taught engineer at heart, a passion that began in his youth. As a teenager, his love of rocketry famously caused a small roof fire in a nearby commercial building. This curiosity never abated; he remained a dedicated Amateur Radio operator (WD9USA, formerly WB9TDH) from the age of 40 until 91, showcasing his deep knowledge of electronics and radio frequencies.

Hankey's true legacy, however, was his tireless service to others and his profound reverence for all life. He avoided killing any living thing if at all possible, even learning the delicate skill of trapping flies with his hands to release them outdoors without injury. For decades, he spent an enormous amount of time providing medication, food, and translation services to hundreds of people. He didn't just help neighbors; he helped everyone. He and Hirae were the first to arrive when anyone was ill, acting as advocates to help families navigate the complexities of the healthcare system.

The Final Promise

The core of Hankey's life was his devotion to Hirae, his "Apple." Having met in the late 1950s, the two were married in 1962 and shared 63 years of life together. He had promised her family over a decade ago that he would care for her until the very end. He spent his final years fulfilling that vow with every ounce of his energy-carefully cooking her favorite meals and acting as her primary caretaker until her passing in late 2025.

Hankey also shared a profound bond with his grandson, Gregory. Though they lived in different states, Hankey was his biggest supporter. Even in his final days, the mention of Gregory's name brought an unmistakable light to his face.

Surviving Family

Hankey was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Hirae, and his son, Young Ho. He is survived by his daughter, Andrea (Roger), and his grandson, Gregory. He leaves behind a workbench full of solar lighting parts-a final project for a man who never stopped trying to build something new.

Celebration of Life Service

Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 7:00 PM

Colonial Funeral Home

8025 W. Golf Rd.

Niles, IL

Funeral Service

Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 10:00 AM

Colonial Funeral Home

8025 W. Golf Rd.

Niles, IL

Burial Service

Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 11:30 AM

RandHill Park Cemetery

1700 W. Rand Rd.

Arlington Heights, IL