Obituary: Vantassel, Kyong
Age 64
She passed away peacefully at Sacred Heart Medical Center surrounded by her family and friends.
Kyong was born on March 2, 1948 in Taegu, South Korea.
She spent her childhood and adolescent years working on her family farm where they grew rice, apples and persimmon crops.
She met and married her husband Kurt VanTassel in 1968 while he was stationed in Korea.
In 1969 they welcomed their first child Kim Susan VanTassel born in Seoul, South Korea.
After a short tour in San Francisco, California, they returned to South Korea in 1971 where their second child, Aric Matthew VanTassel was born.
She received U.S.
Citizenship that same year.
During her husband’s 21 year career in the Air Force, the family had traveled to many locations before arriving and settling in Spokane, WA.
in 1977.
Born with a strong work ethic, Kyong had worked very hard to provide her children and family the things she had been deprived of growing up.
In April 1980 she secured full time employment at Sacred Heart Medical Center.
During her 28 years there she made many friends and cherished the opportunity to share with them her Korean culture, language and customs.
Such activities included the sharing and cooking of Korean cuisine, and her natural ability to knit, crochet and craft.
Her farm girl persona stayed with her well into her adult years.
Many times during each growing season, she never passed on the opportunity to hike into the forest of North Idaho to pick wild fern and mushrooms and to Green Bluff for cherries and other fruits.
She took a great deal of pride in growing peppers, garlic and leaf lettuce in her backyard garden for her wonderful home cooking.
Kyong embraced the American culture with passion and enjoyed the times spent dancing with her husband of 44 years.
A loving and proud grandmother of five, she enjoyed sharing the special days in their lives and loved visiting with them.
Kyong was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers.
She is survived by a sister, Kwak Sun Ok in Korea, her husband Kurt (Van), daughter Kim (Susan), son Aric and wife Jane, granddaughters McKenzie, Becky, Elizabeth, Grandsons Dalton and Matthew, her extended family Bob and Laverne VanTassel, Terry and Lynn VanTassel, Diane VanTassel, Karen and Neal Kerlin, Sandy and Jim Schwedler.
The family would like to thank the many members of the medical community who provided the care for Kyong during these last five years.
Their professionalism and compassion meant so much to us and her.
For all the love and kindness expressed during this difficult time by so many of you, we will be forever grateful.
AFTER GLOW I’d like the memory of me to be A Happy one I’d like to leave an after glow of Smiles when life is done I’d like to leave an echo whispering Softly down the ways Of happy times and laughing times And bright and Sunny days I’d like the tears of those gwo grieve, To dry before the sun Of happy memories that I leave When life is done YOBO…I love you and will miss you, God speed - Van A memorial will be held in Spokane at Spokane New Heaven Church, 2910 W. Beacon Ave on Saturday, March 2, at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Sacred Heard Medical Center.