Kyee Young Koh, 77, passed away in Madison, Wisconsin on July 3, 2024, from pulmonary fibrosis, with his cherished family by his side. Mercifully, his last few hours on this earth were calm and peaceful.
Kyee was born on June 20, 1947, in Seoul, Korea, to Chang Sup Koh, a physician, and Bok Soon Kim, a schoolteacher. He was an only child, as his family was separated during the Korean War. Raised mostly by his single mother, Kyee enjoyed a childhood surrounded by his many cousins. He graduated from the prestigious Seoul National University College of Medicine in 1971, then met and married his wife, Hee Kyu Min, in November 1973. After the birth of his first daughter, Jane, the three began a new life in America in 1975. His second daughter, Kimberly, was born in 1980.
During their 30 years in Mansfield, Ohio, Kyee built a successful practice as a radiation oncologist, while creating for himself and his family a wonderful community of loved ones and friends. He picked up golf late in life, and quickly fell in love with the sport. Naturally athletic, Kyee soon became a scratch golfer and an avid member of the local country club. He enjoyed golfing up until his lungs could no longer support the activity.
Kyee and Hee spent many days traveling to both Hawaii and Korea to visit family, as well as traveling extensively with their children and grandchildren, sponsoring precious memories from Bermuda to Alaska and countless places in between, including Niagara Falls, their “go-to” family vacation destination.
Kyee is survived by his wife of 50 years, Hee Kyu; his daughters Jane, 49, and Kimberly, 44; his sons-in-law, Nam, 50, and James, 46; and his three beloved grandchildren, Amelia, 15, Sawyer, 12, and Ramona 11, whom he hoped would all follow in his footsteps to become either medical doctors or excellent golfers—or both.
Kyee was a son, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a doctor, and even a junior Olympic qualifier in table tennis, as well as an actor in his college days. He was the quintessential provider who was known to enjoy a well-cooked steak and perhaps a drink or four with his buddies—yet he also took pride in the quiet joy of being a family man. Gone too soon, he will forever be remembered by those who knew him as generous, adventurous, and maybe a little intimidating at first, but kind and emotional once you got to know him. Above all, he was determined and stubborn, proving that until the very end as he fought bravely against his illness. His loved ones take comfort in knowing that today, he is no doubt on a pristine golf course somewhere up in the sky, gulping down deep, satisfying breaths as he admires yet another one of his beautiful drives.
In lieu of flowers or a memorial service, donations may be made in his name to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation to aid in helping others find a cure for this terrible disease.
https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/PFFTribute/KyeeKoh
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