Chia Shan Yang

CHIA SHAN YANG, 92, entered the presence of Jesus on February 12, 2017. Born in Beijing on December 2, 1924.  He is survived by his loving wife, Yuen C. Tsui; and children, Sara (Alfred) HuYoung and Samuel (Connie) Yang; daughter-in-law, Esther Yang, Ruth (James LeMaster); 13 grandchildren (4 spouses); 8 great-grandchildren and in China, by his sister and brother. He is predeceased by his parents, older brother, sister and son, Rev. Joshua Yang.   

He graduated from the Guangzhou Merchant Marine Academy in 1949 and besides being a captain in the Merchant Marines, Chia owned a shipping brokerage firm and several Chinese restaurants in the N.Y. / N.J. area. After retirement, he became a full time missionary in 1996. He then started Rockford based Central Asia Sharing Aid (CASA), eventually opening up the first government approved Christian orphanages and schools under the Mercy Charitable Christian Foundation (MCCF) in Kyrgyzstan. Today, MCCF consists of 4 Christian schools, an orphanage, a disabled children’s home, the International University of Central Asia, a mountain camp and other ministries serving over 1600 students per year. His illness never dimmed his love for the children of Kyrgyzstan and it was his prayer that the work there would continue for many years to come.

Visitation will start at 9:00am on Wednesday, February 15, 2017, followed by a Funeral Service at 10:30am at City First Church South Auditorium, entering off Spring Creek, 5950 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, 61114. Burial will take place at Scandinavian Cemetery followed by a funeral luncheon at City First Church. The family would like to thank all who assisted in the care of Chia: Hospice and Bickford nurses & CNAs, all caretakers, church families and friends. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund to honor Chia S. Yang will be established to benefit the ministry of CASA (www.casa-mission.org).

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