Jim Chi Wei

JIM CHI WEI

1950 – 2026

Jim Chi Wei age 76, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 6 th, 2026, in his San Francisco home surrounded by his wife, four children, and grandchildren. He was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia and fought hard, especially in his last few weeks, so he could be around for his youngest son's wedding. Unfortunately, this wish went unfulfilled. Jim's dementia was the worst of its kind, impacting his health, both physically and mentally, at a strikingly rapid pace and ending his life.

Jim was born on February 7 th, 1950 in Hubei, China to parents, Wei Wen Hsiuan and Tian Mei Gui He was born into a privileged land-owning family but during a time of regional turmoil, in which the Chinese Civil War had just ended. The Communist Regime had taken control of the government from the Chinese Nationalist Government (KMT) and overnight, millions of lives, including Jim's were significantly impacted by this drastic change in political climate. He was barely a month old when his father, a Huangpu Military Academy graduate, and an army officer in the Nationalist Army, went to war and never came back home.

Jim and his family lost all their possessions and were reduced to the lowest class in the Communist's caste system due to their ties with a Nationalist Army Officer in the family. Jim grew up in the village of Gong An and had a very rough childhood, constantly subjected to oppression and abuse by the Communist Regime. A studious student with a thirst for knowledge, it broke his spirit when his mother had to curtail his education and take him out of school at the age 10 due to labor shortage to work in the rice paddies after his uncle suffered an injury and could no longer work in the fields.

At a youthful age, Jim and his older sister helped their mother and uncle tremendously with their daily livelihood of farming. At the age of 22, Jim married a kind young seamstress, Zheng Mei Zhi in a neighboring village and moved in with her family. For the first time in his life, he was happy and felt secure with his new identity as a live-in son-in-law. They had two children, a daughter (Jane), and a son (Ken).

Unfortunately, this happiness did not last. Five years later, in May of 1977, his wife died of a fever after a barefoot doctor gave her the wrong shots and medicine. Jim was so heartbroken and could not withstand the shock of his wife's sudden death. He went to work as a chef at the local cotton factory where he received a meager monthly salary and living accommodation while his children stayed with their maternal grandparents.

In 1981, a miracle happened when Jim found out his father was still alive after 30 years without any news of him. His father survived the war after evading the Communist's capture and found refuge in Taiwan, where he remarried and had two more sons with his second wife. His father had immigrated to the United States in 1973 to seek better opportunities for his family. His father started searching for his lost family in China when the country finally opened again to the outside world. In September of 1982, after going through an arduous immigration process, Jim arrived in America at the age of 32 with his newlywed young wife and three children: Jane, Ken, and Baby Keith.

Jim was known for his unwavering work ethic. To provide for his family, he continued his career as a chef and worked in the restaurant business in San Francisco and the Bay Area. He reached a peak of owning his own business, Chef Hunan Chinese Restaurant, from 1994-2003. He also worked for Gategourmet, a global airline catering company, at San Francisco International Airport from 2006 to 2012, in which he was immensely proud to receive a promotion to work in the liquor department, only second to gaining his U.S. citizenship. Jim's supervisors often commented that his work ethic, quality, and efficiency were truly unmatched.

While Jim took pride in his work, his true devotion was his family. As a father, he was the provider, making sure his family had a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. He never wanted family to go hungry like he did as a child. When he was still working, he would utilize his rare moments of time off to bring family to visit local flower gardens and feed the ducks in Golden Gate Park. In retirement, he took pleasure in gardening and keeping up with the lives of his children and grandchildren as they came into this world. He taught his children the value of education, hard work, self-reliance, being frugal, and never giving up.

Jim touched the lives of many as a devoted and compassionate husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and friend. He is dearly loved and will be missed by so many.

In passing, Jim is joining his deceased first wife, Zheng Mei Zhi his parents Wei Wen Hsiuan and Tian Mei Gui and his sister Wei Sheng Nian Jim is survived by his brothers, Jack Wei and John Wei his wife of 44 years, Mamei Wei and his four children: Jane Wei Sander and spouse Jack Walter Sander III, Ken Wei and spouse Jennifer Wei Keith Wei and spouse Prapai Chalongkoon, Kevin Wei and spouse Alice Wang Jim is further survived by his beloved grandchildren: Audrey Wei Preston Wei Jack Walter Sander IV Kai Wei Chloe Wei and Nya Wei ), who will always remember their "Grandpa" for his desire to make sure those under his roof were well fed. A service to celebrate Jim's life followed by a graveside service will be held on Sunday, February 15 th, 2026 at 9:00 am at Olivert Gardens Chapel at 1651 Hillside Blvd, Colma, CA 94014. After service completion, a reception will be held at Cypress Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park, at 1370 El Camino Real, Colma, CA 94014.