Anthony H.J. Kang

Entered Heaven Sunday, August 24, 2014, age 20. Beloved son of David and Meg. Big brother of David and Robby. Also loved by many aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends.

H. J. stands for Hyu Jin – his Korean name. With his Korean dad and American mom, Tony was very handsome since day one. He looked more Korean than "American", evidenced by the many times when his mom was asked "did you adopt him?"

It was overall a hard life, the one that Tony just completed here–lived mostly in bed and filled with all the struggles that typically accompany a progressive neurodegenerative disease. A life that most people would ask what's the purpose? Besides his good looks and surviving for 20 years, he really didn't accomplish much when measured against worldly standards. To understand all that Tony achieved, one has to look deeper than the surface of the usual life successes. First and foremost, he touched so many lives while he was here among us and he was loved by many. He was the bravest and toughest person his mom and dad and brothers ever knew–living many years longer than was originally expected and overcoming one too many brushes with death, not to mention all the times he recovered from the many surgeries, hospitalizations, and the countless long, drawn-out seizures that modern medicine could not adequately control. And what a prayer generator he was. So many people would pray for him–from his parents and brothers, both grandmas (from on Earth and from Heaven), aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and strangers, to his pastor, Pastor Annette and her battalion of intercessors, to prayer teams in far-off ministries, even a missionary team in Zambia.

Some of the gifts that God gave Tony are the kind that usually nobody would ever want to receive and they were easily overlooked or forgotten. With the gift of lifelong innocence, Tony never, in his 20 years offended anyone or hurt anyone's feelings–not even his brothers. And he never took offense from anyone–not even his brothers. With the gift of complete and total dependence he would evoke kindness and compassion that reminds us of our humanness, especially from his squadron of caregivers providing excellent care at the home base, Mitzi, Aunt Kate, Ashley, Meghan, Sarah, and Julia, and also from the elite team of reinforcements led by Dr. Humphrey at Children's Hospital of WI. And the heavenly gifts of peace and rest manifested all the times when Tony was comfortable, assuring us that despite all his challenges, he was letting not his heart to be troubled.

Tony was a gift to us from Heaven. He taught so many of us patience, compassion, and unconditional love. He was born to be loved and cherished. What an awesome purpose!

Dear Lord, on behalf of everyone who knew and loved Anthony Hyu Jin Kang, thank You for the time that you blessed us with having him in our lives. Amen!

Visitation at the Funeral Home, 21600 West Capitol Drive, Thursday, August 28, 4:00-5:45 PM. Funeral Service 6:00 PM. Reception to follow.