Sam Kim Louie

Sam Kim Louie passed away peacefully on December 4, 2021 in San Francisco, surrounded by his loving family. He fought bravely to recover from heart surgery, but after 90 years of extraordinary living, his body could no longer keep up. Sam was born on June 21, 1931 to Lew Shee and Yee Pai Louie in Stockton, California. Yee Pai arrived at Angel Island in 1909 before joining his older brothers in Stockton. Once there, he grew and sold vegetables, saved diligently, married, raised a family, and eventually became a partner in the Foo Lung Company, a Chinese grocery. From his parents, Sam learned the value of hard work, earning money by working at the family store, selling papers, shining shoes, mowing lawns, and helping at an herbal pharmacy. He had little free time between work duties, regular school, and Chinese school, but he did play basketball for the church-sponsored Laocius Club. The close-knit Chinese Community gave him a deep appreciation for the importance of family and friends. Sam attended Stockton College before enlisting in the Marine Corps with his life-long friend, Joe Huey. He was deployed to South Korea, earning the rank of Sergeant before being honorably discharged in 1954. He enrolled at UC Berkeley where he studied civil engineering, honed his culinary skills as a boarding house cook, and met the love of his life, Lorna Lee, a native of Honolulu. Together they raised six children and were happily married for over 64 years! Throughout the years they enjoyed family vacations in Hawaii and Lake Tahoe, delighted in the achievements of their children and grandchildren, traveled to such places as Asia, Africa, Europe, and New Zealand, and cheered for the California Golden Bears of UC Berkeley. Sam worked as an engineer with the California Department of Transportation for 22 years. In 1969, Sam and several partners opened the Sampan Chinese Smorgy, the first Chinese smorgasbord in Stockton. He worked two jobs to support his growing family. After retiring from Cal Trans in 1981, Sam ran the restaurant full time, using his natural talent as a host and businessman to provide Stockton with a great buffet, catering and banquet service, and a popular watering hole. By the time "The Pan" closed in 2003, every member of the family had learned valuable lessons working in the family business. Over the years, Sam dedicated himself to supporting the Chinese community locally, nationally, and internationally through service and leadership in the Soo Yuen Benevolent Association. In 1995, he attained the rank of Senior Advisor for his tireless support and many years of service. Sam was also involved locally in the Cathay Club and served as English Secretary. As a retired couple, Sam and Lorna volunteered their time at the Confucious Church (Chinese) Benevolent Association, where Sam served for years on the Board of Directors. Sam was always good with numbers and could calculate amazingly fast from his years as an engineer. The ultimate handyman, he designed and built his Lodi home from the ground up. He was a prolific reader who would sometimes read entire novels in a day. Sam was always proud of his family and took enormous satisfaction from being chief meal planner, grocery shopper, and head chef for family functions. He will be remembered as the wise, gregarious patriarch, generous with his time, and always supportive of his extended family and friends. Sam was deeply loved by his family and will be remembered well by all who knew him. Sam is predeceased by his youngest son Tim (16). He is survived by his wife Lorna, his sister Helen Jow of Stockton, his children Brad (Dora) Louie of Stockton, Leslie (Dave) Louie/Bowen of Oakland, Cindy Louie of Lodi, Cheryl (Dean) Medek of Manteca, David (Eunice) Louie of Los Altos, twelve grandchildren, and his first great grandchild due early next year. A private memorial service will be held in Stockton, with a larger Celebration of Life to be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to organizations that serve the Stockton Chinese community, such as the Confucious Church Benevolent Association and the Jene Wah Senior Center.