Wing Quon

Wing Quon passed away peacefully at home June 26, 2021. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. He was predeceased by Lan. They had a wonderful 64 years of marriage, travels, and happiness. He is off to join her now.

Wing was born in 1935 in Canton China. In China his mom was a housing chef while his father immigrated to Canada as a cook too. He remembers the hard work in the rice fields, the free time in the countryside, or being in Hong Kong with his family. There are just a few pics of them growing up that we all treasure.

Wing sailed over to America on his own as a teenager, while his mother immigrated a year earlier with other family members. He landed in Angel Island, USA to get processed and stayed with an uncle in San Francisco for a few months until he received his papers for Canada. He traveled by train through White Rock and then bused to Calgary to join his mother, his father and ‘brother’ Sing. Dad always tells the story of sailing the pacific ocean. On the first day, many got seasick, but dad was fine and really enjoying the journey. But by day two, he was also seasick!

Once in Canada, he worked in his dad’s businesses, determined to become a successful businessman. His claim to fame was Del’s Dairy Bar, the only soft serve ice cream shop in Northhill. After, he tried his hand at a Chinese souvenir shop in Calgary’s Chinatown, he eventually got into the grocery business with his father and Sing, KQ Foods down by the Stampede grounds. Dad and Sing would cut their own meats, make sausages, and display produce. They had us, the kids, work along side them to learn a trade and more importantly how to treat customers. At the end of their long work day, they delivered groceries in the neighbourhood and in Inglewood to homebound seniors. I remember my dad would also encourage people with the food stamps, at that time, to buy healthy foods for their families and not spend it all on cigarettes and junk food for themselves. Dad worked hard and took every second Sunday off to take us to fly kites, skate, and play in the park. It was dad and the kids’ morning together. Trip highlights included a yearly Banff visit and a swim in the Banff Springs sulphur pool.

In their retirement years, dad and mom traveled the world, enjoying and meeting many lifelong friends on their world travels. Their townhouse holds many of their travel treasures. They also enjoyed the simple pleasures. Dad would C-train to chinatown to buy treats and Chinese papers. Also, dad and mom’s weekly routine included the casino where they could enjoy a Stampede breakfast or try their hand at the slot machines.

But most of all, dad was dedicated to his family. He loved entertaining the grandkids with swimming, the park, or going to the library. Dad's goal as a younger man in China was to be a journalist. He definitely passed his love of reading to the grandkids. He also enjoyed making dim sum treats, and always had a loaf of banana bread ready for his grandchildren to take home with them during visits. He took every opportunity to pass on his knowledge in life, often telling his grandchildren to be good people, to be independent, and to enjoy life. He used to say “it’s not what you earn but what you save” and “go get your education, because nobody can take that away from you.”

A pictorial tribute of Wing's life can be viewed at https://photos.app.goo.gl/vaY57PUapDBvE27PA.

The dedication to his loving wife Lan Quon (who predeceased him by only 8 months), can also be viewed at https://www.simplycremations.ca/obituary/lan-Quon

There will be no service, but there will be a public viewing only, prior to cremation at Evan J. Strong Funeral Services (5502 2 Street SW, Calgary, AB T2H 0G9) on Saturday, July 3, 2021 between 10:00-11:00am.

Limited parking is available behind the funeral home. Designated parking will also be reserved on the street for the viewing.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Wing Quon, please visit our Tree Store.