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Yook Gan

August 2, 2025

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Yook Gan, 62, of Asian Wok, died Saturday, August 2, 2025.

Per Yook’s last wish, service will be a small intimate amongst family and close friends. A memorial will be held at Asian Wok for those who would like to pay their respects and celebrate her life on Saturday, September 6, 2025 from 2:00 – 6:00 PM.

At the age of 18, Yook began her life journey. She left Malaysia and went to study abroad in Taiwan at Feng Chia University Republic of China. There she met the love of her life, Mike. It was not love at first sight for her, but it was for him. After many attempts, Yook finally said yes, and the rest is history.

After finishing her degree at Feng Chia University Republic of China, she continued her life journey to Wichita, Kansas. From there, she and Mike started to build their future. In the year 1997, they opened the first Malaysia restaurant in Wichita. Then in 2001, they built a business called Café Asia. For those who ate at Café Asia and met Yook, she was always full of energy. Her memory was uncanny. Yook can remember an entire order from just looking at the phone number on the caller ID or even when recognizing someone’s voice. She was the heart and soul of that establishment, making every patron who walked through those doors feel welcome.

In late 2020, Yook and Mike wanted to slowly transition into retirement, which meant they closed Café Asia. Neither could stay away from the busy restaurant life, so soon after closing their business of 20 years, they opened Asian Wok. Even with moving locations and changing the business’ name, Yook’s warmth and welcoming spirit didn’t change.

Even though Yook was continuously busy with the business, that didn’t stop her from spending time with her family. Her life always revolved around her two children, Stacy and Jeslee, and her beloved grandson, Ethan. Yook was always planning on the next trip. She has taken her family all around the United States and most of Europe. Her last trip was in 2023 to visit her old college in Taiwan.

Yook will forever live in the hearts she touched. She will be missed by many.

Preceded in death by her parents, Chian Ng and Ngee Chong of Malaysia.

Survived by her husband, Cheong “Mike” Gan; daughter, Stacy (Josh) Gould; son, Jeslee Gan; grandchild, Ethan Gould, all of Wichita.

The family has asked for no flowers or fruit baskets and asked for any proceeds to be donated to St. Jude in Yook’s name. Link: https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=8892964&fr_id=154020&pg=personal

Services in care of Downing & Lahey Mortuary – East Chapel.

Services

Memorial Service: Saturday, September 6, 2025 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Asian Wok
2929 N. Rock Rd., Ste. 105
Wichita, KS 67226

Add to My Calendar America/Chicago 2025-09-06 14:00:00 2025-09-06 06:00:00 YookGanMemorial Service Memorial Service 2929 N. Rock Rd., Ste. 105,Wichita, KS 67226

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Charities

The family greatly appreciates donations made to these charities in Yook Gan 's name.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

501 St. Jude Pl.

Memphis,

TN

38105

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  2. I will always have memories of Yook. Yook and Everyone at the Asian Wok will always be remembered as one of the most gracious and grateful hosts in The Wichita Restaurant Community. Selfless, Fantastic service/work to Everyone. I Can never say enough thanks for what She has done in Her life. Eternal Blessings always!

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  3. I want to share with family how very sorry I am for their loss. It was a pleasure to have known Yook. She was a very friendly and generous lady. Yook was very proud of her grandson, Ethan, and loved to tell me about him. She will be greatly missed.

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  5. I only knew Yook through the restaurant, but she still made me feel like family. She always did that little something extra- throw in something special for my kids, give me a potted plant clippings, make sure to call me so I get my order in before they go, sharing family photos. Comfortable enough to share a grumble and an eye roll. Just a deeply warm and open person. Truly one of a kind with a vibrancy that will leave such an impossible space to fill. I’m honored to have known her and felt the warmth of her heart, even from a distance. Thank you Mike, for personally letting me know and including us all in a remembrance.

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  7. My coworkers and I were regulars in both Cafe Asia and Asian Wok.
    We didn’t have to say a word, she smiled knew exactly what we wanted every week, even those of us who switched up our order regularly. This made the conversations we did have much more enjoyable as we could talk food, travel, culture, and catch up. Anytime one of us was missing, she was always very interested to where they were traveling and what there was to see/do around the world. Anytime we missed a week, she demanded to know where we went and what we ate, often very familiar with the menus and cooking of other local restaurants.

    Yook always went the extra mile with her food. We never ever left hungry, always happy!

    We will miss Yook dearly. Our sincerest condolences to her family, friends, and patrons.
    -McClelland Sound (Rob, Paul, Zach, & Mike)

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  9. Took will be missed; she was so friendly and outgoing. After Cafe Asia closed, I didn’t make it into the new place much, and I had wondered how things were going. Jeslee, I am so sorry for the loss of your mom! 😥

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  11. Forever missed and loved I hope that she can find peace and happiness like she did in herself even in afterlife rest in peace

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  13. I’m heartbroken. What a loss of a beautiful person of such a wonderful family. Love to you all. “The Spicy Family*

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  14. We are quite simply heartbroken. When we moved from Tucson to Wichita I realized I found my favorite restaurant within the first few weeks of moving here and that was 20 years ago! We are truly blessed for having known Yook. Thank you to the entire Gan family for including us in your world.

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  15. Although I did not know your Mom, if she was anything like you, I know she was a wonderful person. I am so sorry for your loss.

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  16. I’m so sorry to hear of her passing 😞 Rest easy. I pray that God is with your family and loved ones and that he carries them through this time. She will be very very missed

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  17. Rest in peace, Aunty Yook, your cooking always gave me a sense of belonging in a foreign land. One of the best restaurants in the city as she always had our wishes at heart. I will miss you always. Best wishes also to the entire family during these times.

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  18. Will and Kathy Nuñez !
    We will miss you very much. Thank you for everything all these years.
    I met her and her Family back in 2000. Wonderful person. Always welcoming and kind. I will always remember when she sent me, my very favorite beef soup, while I was sick. Our heart goes out to the Family.

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  19. We miss your smile, the joy you brought, and the way you always fed our hearts and bellies. May your new journey in the next chapter—your New Testament—be just as beautiful.

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  20. Sincere sympathy to the family.
    She will be missed by many.
    She Always knew my husband whenever I would send him in to pick up your delicious food.
    Always a kind word.
    May She Rest In Peace

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  21. Our sincere condolences. Yook always treated everyone special and the food is always made with love. She loved kids and always treated ours like royalty. Cafe Asia and Asian Wok have brought our family a lot of joy for over 20 years. You all are in our prayers.

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  22. I did not her very long but the wonderful stories from family could light up any room. We would go eat at her restaurant receiving amazing food and a warm smile.

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  23. We will be forever grateful for the support and encouragement you gave us. Thank you for your mentorship! Wish you had the chance to eat the pasta you asked for.

    Forever in our hearts. May you rest peacefully!

    The Dorafils Family

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  25. We’ll miss u very much,ya smile,ya laugh,ya sarcasm,ya food and definitely ya love fa me and my family… I 💚 ya

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  26. I met her and a husband and some of her kids. She was a good wife n restauranteur. She was a very humble, hard-working. Nice person to be around. My condolences to her family, Husband, and children I two visited a restaurant over the years very good food. I was sad when she closed the store on Central and Woodlawn. I never knew that the Asian wok was also her restaurant. I just knew she wanted to retire.

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  28. Yook was a lovely, charismatic, personable woman. She always knew my order (and it was large) and called me by name whenever I went into Asian Wok. She was also very kind to me when my husband (one of her favorite customers) passed away about a year ago. I am going to miss this wonderful lady.

    To her her husband and family, I sending all of my love to you during this very difficult time.

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  31. I will forever miss Yook. She always had a smile and made me feel welcomed every time I called and came in. She was the sweetest and most gracious person I’ve ever met. She will be missed…

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  32. I am so sorry. I knew her through Cafe Asia and then Asian Wok. She was always so kind. She always knew it was me when I called and knew what I was ordering and how I liked it. And she would come out to say hello when I picked up my order. My deepest condolences to her family.

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