George Kung

1941 - 2021

George Chao-TsiKung's remarkable life began February 6th, 1941 in Chongqing, China and endedpeacefully at St Michael's Hospital in Stevens Point, WI the night of October 21st, 2021surrounded by family. He is survived by his loving wife, Sonja Kung, sons Tim, Dave, andStephen, grandchildren Soren, Linden, and Ellie, sister Diana Kung and brother Robert Kung. Hewas preceded in death by his parents, L.Y. and Kay Kung and his brother, Roy.
After a childhood that spanned China, Taiwan, and Japan, George came to the U.S. at age 18 topursue an education that culminated in mathematics and physics degrees from Hardin-SimmonsUniversity and UC-Riverside, and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Kentucky. Whilein California he met Sonja Madsen, an unusually effervescent fellow mathematician from Iowa,and their shared love of snuggling, nature, and adventure fostered a beautiful, life-longrelationship. They wed in Cedar Falls, IA in 1967.
George became a professor of mathematics at UWSP in 1969 where he enjoyed a career as aninnovative teacher, dedicated to his students until his retirement in 2001. He engaged inoutreach through Point Set and Point Subset and helped navigate UWSP into the computer age.An invention of his, the four-pan balance, is still used to help young students grasp algebra.
In 1991 he led what became one of many tours that exposed hundreds of people to the marvelsof his homeland, China. A member of Frame Memorial Presbyterian Church, George served onthe church Session and tutored youth group members in math. Along with several otherenterprising parents, he helped start organized youth soccer in Central Wisconsin in the late1970's.
Throughout his life, George enjoyed time with family, photography, camping, fishing, hiking,traveling, reading, and conversations with friends and strangers. In his later years he became athoughtful but not overly-righteous social activist. Until the last, his boyish zeal for life andboundless curiosity blessed those around him. Wherever he went people greeted him with anexclamation point. George!
A gathering to celebrate George! will be planned for Spring 2022. In lieu of flowers, the Kungfamily asks that memorial donations be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Portage County,Operation Bootstrap, and/or Friends of Schmeekle Reserve.