The life of Ka Yeng Yang began in Laos where she was born on April 16, 1949 to Shoua Seng Yang
and Mao Lee. She was the only child to her mother who eventually remarried to the Vang family
and was adopted by the Vang family. Ka lived with her mother and Vang family until she married
her only love, Chia Vang Lee in 1968. They had their first child, Chue in 1970 and then their son
Fong in 1972 before the Secret War happened in Laos. While in the safety of the refugee camps
in Nam Yao Thailand, Ka had her last two children, Pa Lee and Pao.
In 1984, Ka and her family emigrated from Thailand to the United States of America as refugees.
They first settled in Fresno, California where they joined some family already there and learned
the new American culture. Ka remained the primary caregiver for her children as well as the
homemaker of the family until all of her children became adults. Ka and her family would
ultimately move to Sheboygan, WI in 1989, where she would live most of her life.
Ka loved to sew, cross-stitch, and garden. She used to make traditional Hmong clothing for her
children and grandchildren to wear during the Hmong New Year celebrations. Her favorite
things to grow in her garden were pumpkin, green beans, corn, cucumbers and traditional
Hmong herbs and medicinal plants that she would share with family.
Ka spent her last 6 months living in Appleton, WI with her daughter Pa Lee Moua, son-in-law
Ying Moua and their family before she passed away at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital on September 23,
2026.
Ka leaves behind her love and soul mate of 58 years Chia, her 3 daughters Chue Lee (George
Vue), Pa Lee Moua (Ying Moua), and Pao Yang (Tony Yang), as well as 24 grandchildren, 8 great
grandchildren and a huge extended Hmong Lee family.
Ka is preceded in death by her one and only beloved son Fong Lee who passed away in 2013.
We are grateful that they will now be together.
Ka lived her life with lots of love, laughter, and family. She always had the loudest voice in the
room and the most contagious laugh that we will never forget. We will miss her beautiful smile
and constant care for us even when her memory was starting to fail.
We want to thank the staff at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital for the wonderful care of our mother,
especially Yoko and Dani.
A traditional Hmong memorial service for Ka will be held at the Hmong Culture Service Center,
1224 Weeden Creek Road, Sheboygan on Saturday October 31, 2026 beginning at 8am. Ka will
be buried at Wildwood Cemetery in Sheboygan, WI.
