Thau Kong (T.K.) Thien of Burnaby, B.C., was called to return to the Lord on June 28, 2024, and passed away peacefully at the age of 83.
Thau Kong was born on July 4, 1940, in Sandakan, Malaysia. He was the seventh in a family of 9 children. After completing his Overseas Senior Cambridge examinations, he received a Shell Corporation Scholarship to study Civil Engineering at the University of London, England. Upon his return to Malaysia, he began working as a Civil Engineer in British North Borneo. Not long after, he was awarded the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship in 1968, which allowed him to pursue a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, USA.
In 1975, Thau Kong immigrated with his family to Canada, where he began his first Canadian Civil Engineering position in Winnipeg. He finally moved to Vancouver, where he worked for the Canadian Federal Government as a Professional Civil Engineer for 23 years before retiring in 2002.
Thau Kong met his wife Josephine in 1964, in Tawau, Malaysia, and they were married in 1966.
Thau Kong and Josephine enjoyed 58 years of beautiful marriage. They had three children, Alvin (1967), Adeline (1970), and Vincent (1973).
Thau Kong loved traveling with his family, traveling with them to four continents and more than twenty-five countries over fourteen years. He was a loyal fan of the Vancouver Canucks Hockey Team and he enjoyed going on daily walks around Burnaby.
TK was an active member of St. John the Apostle Anglican Church in Port Moody and was devoted to his Church Community.
He was known and loved by his family and friends for his immense compassion, patience, generosity, and kindness.
Thau Kong is survived by his wife, Josephine, their children, Alvin and his wife Aurelia, Adeline and her husband Ronald, Vincent and his wife Grace; and his grandchildren, Katie, Ryan, Aiden, Michael, J.T., Kayla, and Aleah.
Kung Kung, our family will never be the same without you. We love you very much and we will miss you forever.
Funeral Services for TK at St. John’s Anglican Church, 2206 St. John St. Port Moody, BC, on July 20th, 2024, at 11:00 am, attached is the Zoom to view TK's service https://zoom.us/j/542312325?pwd=R3FKTnZ4WUU 1YUFveCtzOUljM2FLZz09 Meeting ID: 542 312 325. Password: 010729
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Thau Kong Thien to: Burnaby Hospital Foundation or BC Cancer Foundation.