Chiang-Liu Chen

Chiang-liu Chen, age 92, passed away in South Jordan, Utah on September 7 due to natural causes. He was born January 4, 1931 in the village of Kuoyeh on the island of Penghu, Taiwan to Lun and Nu Hung Hsu. He had seven older brothers. While an infant, his parents allowed him to be adopted by So-lu and Qu Hsu Chen, a young couple in his village.

Chiang-liu was the first member of his family to attend a university. He graduated from Cheng-Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan in 1953 with a Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering. During ROTC service, he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and served as liaison officer to the United States Marine Corps, receiving special language training in English.

During his collegiate years, Chiang-liu competed athletically in soccer, swimming, and judo, earning several medals and eventually earning the highest judo rank achievable in his resident country. He worked as chemical engineer at Long Wah Chan Chemical for twelve years before leaving to complete his doctoral degree in the United States. During these years he published three scientific papers and started raising birds as a hobby.

He married Yu-cheng Wang on January 2, 1957. On May 7, 1960, he was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints. On November 25, 1962, he received his Melchizedek Priesthood Ordination from Elder Gordon B. Hinckley. In 1965, he left his family in Taiwan and traveled to the United States “to learn more about the church and earn a doctorate degree” in chemical engineering at Brigham Young University. He believed in building community and connecting people and created the first Taiwanese Club at BYU. His wife and four daughters emigrated four years later and joined him in Utah. They were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple in 1969. He served as Chinese translator for the Laie Hawaii Temple in 1973 and was ordained to High Priest on September 11, 1977.

He became a U.S. citizen on November 3, 1976.

Following the publication of his doctoral dissertation on coal gasification and completion of his doctoral degree, he worked in various engineering contracts throughout the US, moving his family to Arvada, Colorado; Reading, Pennsylvania; and Alliance, Ohio before moving to South Jordan, Utah in 1982 after accepting a position as Head Engineer at Mountain Fuel, later acquired as Questar Energy. He retired on May 1, 1995.

Through more than forty years as a Utah resident, Chiang-liu helped to create and develop a strong community in the martial art of judo and continued to give judo instruction as a master sensei at age 92. He served as president of the Taiwanese Association. He raised birds throughout his life and worked with aviary groups in species preservation. He loved fishing and was passionate about photography and classical music.

Chiang-liu was politically active in promoting the independence of his native country and upholding the democracy of his naturalized country. He was known for his gentle and gregarious nature, his belief in people, and his love of learning.

He is survived by his wife Yucheng, his eight children: Ming-yin Warner (Claude), Ming-shin Lee (Terry), Ming-chiu Yee (Calvin), Ming-Tzong Hong (Sam), Michael Chen (Nancy), Irene Hamilton (John), Mona Chen, Richard Chen (Amanda); 26 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, all his siblings and their spouses.

Funeral service will be held at 12 pm Friday, September 22 at Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home, 1007 W South Jordan Pkwy in South Jordan, Utah with a viewing from 10:30-11:30 am prior to the service.