Obituary of Brian Haxu Wong

Brian Haxu Wong of Shorewood, MN, passed peacefully surrounded by family on April 14, 2025, at 75. Son of Tri Vuong and Hoa Giang, Brian was born on August 9, 1949, in Saigon, Vietnam, now known as Ho Chi Minh City.

From a young age, Brian possessed a curious and capacious mind for learning and was already a natural handyman with talent. He loved helping his father fix his moped scooter, addressing electrical issues in the community, and was always ready to tackle any household repair with ease and confidence.

Brian served as a sailor and electrician for the Southern Vietnamese Navy. In 1975, he fled the country during the final phase of the US military withdrawal at the Fall of Saigon. As a first-wave refugee, he lived with his sponsors, Charles and Bonnie Elias of Kasson, MN, and worked on the family farm. He cultivated connections within the Chinese American restaurant community through his work in the Twin Cities. For 26 years, Brian was a letter carrier for the US Postal Service before his retirement in 2012.

In 1980, Brian sponsored his sisters and brother to the US and was reunited with his mother and remaining siblings in 1988. Growing up as the eldest son in a family of 11 children, Brian assumed the role of a loving father to his younger siblings. He was the family man you called when you needed your car fixed, computer serviced, or home repaired, and he generously gave his time and labor. As a father and uncle, he taught the second generation how to snowboard and provided opportunities for the cousins to spend time outdoors. As a retiree, he traveled the world with Henrietta; when he was home, he walked the neighborhood with his dog, Bella.

Some of our most cherished memories with Brian are at his lake home on Lake Marion in Dent, MN, especially with his four grandchildren. He and Henrietta enjoyed hosting family and friends at their beautiful home, which Brian built masterfully with pride, care, and intention. He was most relaxed spending hours fishing or windsurfing with joy and charisma into his 70s.

Brian was preceded in death by his mother, Hoa Giang; father, Tri Vuong; brother, Ha To Vuong; and brother-in-law, Toan Ba Trieu.

He is remembered by his wife of 43 years, Henrietta Han Yen; his children, Raymond and Verna (Chaun); his grandchildren, Taj, Zion, Octavia, and Ocean; his siblings, QuynhAnh, LanAnh (Cheung), Van (Hong), Anne (Chau), Hung, Fong (Joel), Binh (Hue), Stephanie (Vin), and Chung; and his extended family, friends, and neighbors.

A gathering will be held on Monday, April 21, 2025, at the Cremation Society of Minnesota of Edina (7110 France Avenue South, Edina, MN 55435) from 12 PM until 2 PM. It will have elements of both a visitation and open house style memorial, where visitors can say goodbye and be with family and friends. Guests can drop in or stay for the duration of the gathering. There will be an invitation to share stories, read poetry, and share music to remember Brian. Friends and family are welcome to share them in the language(s) they feel most comfortable in.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial contributions be made to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation