Sue "Leon" Moua

Vaam Xwm was born in a refugee camp in Vinai, Thailand, on November 29, 1984. His parents are Npuag Xub Muas & Cua Xyooj. They have 8 children: Tshuas Blong, Mai Shoua, Vaam Sue, Xang, Jerry, Yang, Mai Nou, and Pang Nha. Vaam Xwm’s family immigrated to the USA in 1987 to Kansas City, KS. He grew up from humble beginnings. Some of the neighborhoods that he grew up in were South Mill, South 35th, and South 37th, where many Hmong families lived. Vaam Sue often talked about the countless cherished memories with close friends during these times.

He had the opportunity to start high school at Sumner Arts and Academy but graduated from Washington High School. In Fall 2002, he married his high school sweetheart, Pang Thao.  They were married for 22 years. They have 6 beautiful children: Charity, Matheo, Jayla, Melody, Serena, and Titus. Vaam Xwm often went out of his comfort zone to do things for the kids, like going to daddy-daughter dances and being a Girl Scout Dad. Spending hours sharing and teaching the boys how to play sports and working on cars. He was a good, loving father to all his children. He encouraged them to follow their dreams and put God at the center of everything they do.

After high school, he went to Kansas City Area Technical School for a Certificate in Automotive Technology. He worked as a mechanic at Walmart, Hermes Landscaping, and Advanced Auto Parts. In 2005, he started working for Stryten Energy and worked there for 19 years. He was able to use his mechanical skills to make many improvements at Stryten. He has held multiple positions in the company such as an assembly worker, team leader, and quality improvement. Coworkers often talked about how he advocated for safety in the company, equal opportunities, and he was the voice for his co-workers.

In 2012, he decided to go back to school and graduated with an Associate Degree in Science. In 2014, while he was taking his daughter Charity to Hoffman’s modeling classes, he was offered an opportunity for modeling. He completed a photo shoot with Sprint and other modeling opportunities. He had stopped modeling for a few years but recently auditioned for KC Fashion Week. He was supposed to be in the fall show 2024, but he became ill and could not walk in the show. He was always stylish, with his hair in perfect form.  

In 2017, he worked hard to become a citizen so that he could travel the world to Paris, Mexico, Thailand, etc. Vaam Xwm was so adventurous he got to live out his dream of swimming with the dolphins, climbing the mountains of Hawaii, going to the Arc de Triomphe, and seeing the Mayan ruins. He enjoyed trying different kinds of exotic food, such as octopus, scorpions, and grasshoppers. One trip he could not stop talking about planning for was his trip to Japan with all his friends. Vaam Xwm had a passion to travel the world, leaving footprints wherever he went.

Vaam Xwm loved his parents and in-laws so dearly. His dream was to take his parents and his in-laws to Hawaii. He didn’t plan a special trip to Hawaii with his wife until their 3rd trip to Hawaii. He worked so hard to show the children how big and wide this world was, but most importantly, to love God, serve God, and praise God right where they were. During their cruise, they went on a mini-mission trip to Roatan at the Sandy Bay Light House orphanage. The children had the opportunity to collect school supplies to bring to the orphanage. They toured the school. They learned about how the children came to be orphans. They learned how different life was for children. Most importantly, they learned that Christ’s love extends beyond the walls of the church.

In 2018, he became a Certified Nurse Aide and worked for Brookdale Collage Square. In 2020, the COVID pandemic hit. He was very busy with his full-time job at Stryan and family life but made time to care for the patients. He was a hero working on the front- lines. Vaam Xwm was a soft-spoken man who served God through the way he carried himself, loving everyone around him, serving the church, and serving the community. He was a selfless man who gave to others when he didn’t have much himself.

Vaam Xwm was called home while fighting his battle with metastatic NUT lung cancer.  The doctor said nothing Vaam Xwm did to cause this cancer. The doctor said there was no way to detect or prevent the cancer. The doctor said the cancer is so rare that only 2 other people were diagnosed in Kansas. The doctor said even the best cancer specialists have not come up with a treatment plan. The doctor called it “bad luck” cancer. The family, his friends, and the church family —prayed, hugged, and cried for Vaam Xwm, devoted husband, loving father, our brother, and dearest friend.

Vaam Xwm held onto his faith and never once said that he was scared. From the very beginning, he said he lived a good life, he was blessed, and was happy. He said if God chose to save him, then he would be forever grateful. But if God chooses to take him, he knows where he is going, he is not afraid, and if it’s his time, he is happy to go. Now as the Pang and the children move forward, they count the blessings that God allowed him to be with them for a little while. They miss him so much every day, but they are so blessed to have all the memories and all those special moments.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 7-8

Saturday, October 26, 2024 

Memory Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Olathe Christian Church 1115 S Ridgeview Rd Olathe, KS 66062 

Family, friends, and community is welcome to share memories of Vaam Xwm Muas (Sue/Leon) during Memory Time. 

Celebration of Life Service Time: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Location: Olathe Christian Church 1115 S Ridgeview Rd Olathe, KS 66062 

Celebration of Life Dinner Location: First Hmong CMA 900 S Honeysuckle Dr Olathe, KS 66061 

Sunday, October 27, 2024 

Family Appreciation Lunch Time: 12:30 pm Location: First Hmong CMA 900 S Honeysuckle Dr Olathe, KS 66061 

Memory Time Time: 2:00 pm- 3:00pm Location: Olathe Christian Church 1115 S Ridgeview Rd Olathe, KS 66062 

Family, friends, and community is welcome to share memories of Vaam Xwm Muas (Sue/Leon) during Memory Time. 

Celebration of Life Service Time: 4:00 pm Location: Olathe Christian Church 1115 S Ridgeview Rd Olathe, KS 66062 

Celebration Dinner Location: First Hmong CMA 900 S Honeysuckle Dr Olathe, KS 66061 

Monday, October 28, 2024 

Memorial Service/ Last Viewing Time: 9:00 am Location: Kansas City Funeral Directors Funeral Home. 4880 Shawnee Dr Kansas City, KS 66106 

Committal Service- Burial Location: Gate of Heaven N 126th St & Parallel Pkwy Kansas City, KS 66109 

Farewell Lunch Time 12:30 pm Location: New Life Fellowship 4815 Gibbs Rd Kansas City, KS 66104