Kun Yong Lee

Kun Yong Lee, of Linden, NJ, passed away peacefully at home surrounded with loving family members in the presence of God on June 12, 2025. 

 Kun Yong Lee was born in Seoul on September 18, 1938 but his birth was not recorded until 1942, and grew up in a difficult time period during the Japanese occupation of Korea and the Korean War. His mother died when he was young and lost 2 younger sisters to starvation and a turbulent environment, and was eventually orphaned and adopted by a British and German couple. As a young adult, he vowed not to live a life of fate and destiny of his circumstances. In 1968, he married Jae Hee Kim and was determined to immigrate to the United States together for a better life with the family.

He started with a humble beginning and limited means, settling in Elizabeth, NJ in 1974 where he started work as a truck mechanic. With many years of diligent, hard work, he and his wife were able to buy a house in Linden, NJ and eventually open up his own car service center. He was a very generous and compassionate person, always caring for others and sacrificing himself. Due to his altruistic nature, he gave up working as a mechanic and began pursuing social work and charity work, becoming heavily involved in the Korean-American communities of NJ. Throughout his lifetime, he was well respected among his peers and served as:

• New Jersey State Civil Rights Commissioner

• President and Chairman of Federation of Korean-American Association 

• VP of Centennial Committee of Korean Immigration to US

• President of Korean Amateur Sports Council

• Director of NJ Korean Women’s Counseling & Education Center

• President of NJ Korean Chamber of Commerce

• Chairman of Korean Senior Citizen Aid Counsel

• Vice Chair of Korean Youth Center of NJ

• Hudson County Commission on Human Relations

• Member of Advisory Council on Peaceful Unification of ROK and DPRK

• Recipient of Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award

Kun Yong Lee was also devoted to God and the Korean Church of Elizabeth, where he served as an elder and choir member, participating and supporting many church activities, events, and missions. He loved his family and was always supportive of his children and grandchildren. He always had the heart to care for his children and provide all the things and opportunities he was never given in his life. We, the family members, commemorate him and feel blessed that he has lived a fulfilling life and is now peacefully together with the Lord. 

Kun Yong Lee is survived by his wife, Jae Hee Lee; their 3 children – Joseph and his wife Sunny, Edward and his wife Eliane, Cynthia and her husband Ray; and 8 grandchildren –Jessica, Kristen, Leanna, Matthew, John, Ryan, Robert, and Remi.

The viewing service will be held on Friday, June 20 at GosselinFuneral Home, 660
New Dover Road, Edison, NJ 08820 (Service and viewing 7:00-9:00pm)

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 21 at Korean Church of Elizabeth, 69B Myrtle Street, Cranford, NJ 07016(9:30am-11:00am)

Burial Service will be held on Saturday, June 21 at Hazel Wood Cemetery, 64 Lake
Avenue, Colonia, NJ 07067 (11:30am)

Our family had a meaningful conversation with him before he passed, and when asked if he believed he will go to heaven and be with God, his last words were "Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen. Thank you." Those were the final words he spoke. 

As we remember Kun Yong Lee, may we keep in mind that our physical death is just part of life, but we celebrate our spiritual life eternally with God. That is the blessing of Emmanuel. 

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