Obituary of Jonsony Kim

Man Sik "Jonsony" Kim, 72, died at home on January 18, 2013. He suffered from kidney malfunction started with a mild stroke in 1997. He is survived by his wife Soora Kim of 43 years and 11 months, a son Steve, daughter-in-law, Leanne, grandson, Sean, granddaughter, Tess of Eugene, daughter, Gina Park, son-in-law, Hojun Park, granddaughter, Abigail, grandson, Isaac of Atlanta, GA, son Tony, granddaughter, Corrine, grandson, Alex of Portland, OR. Jonsony started learning fencing from a high school and continued at Kyuung Hee University in Seoul, Korea. He competed in Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964 for the first time. Since then he was promoted to coach and director of the Korean National Fencing team to lead them in several Asian Games and Summer Olympic Games. His team received the first gold medal in Bangkok Asian Games in 1978 and all medals in the Beijing Asian Games in 1990. He was decorated by four different presidents of Korea in 1962, 1979, 1986 and 1990 for his outstanding achievements in fencing representing Korea. He served as executive director of Korean Fencing Federation from 1977 to 1981. He moved to Eugene with his family in 1991 to acquire and operate Gateway Inn Motel in Springfield in 1991. He sold it in 2005. He has been active in evangelism and providing testimonies about peace in his mind leaning on Christ in Eugene Korean United Church and other Korean churches in spite of his health problems. He taught fencing for youth in Eugene in early 1990's. He served as president and various board positions for Eugene Korean Association. He also provided invaluable voluntary services for Korean track training team members in Eugene such as Hwang Young-Cho, marathon gold medalist in 1992 Barcelona Olympic and Lee Bong-Ju, marathon silver medalist in 2004 Atlanta Olympic. He enjoyed golf with his wife and friends until he lost his vision completely. He has been a role model to many Korean friends in the Pacific Northwest and Korea. Funeral Service will be held at 5:00 pm, Thursday, 1/24/2013, Lane Memorial Gardens, 5300 W. 11th Ave., Eugene, OR 97402 (541) 343-1684. Contact: Steve Kim, (541) 302-3922 steve9996@hotmail.com.