Sue Lui

A Celebration of Life for Sue Lui will be held on Monday, January 12^th from 3PM to 6PM at Merle Hay Funeral Home (4400 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, IA 50310).  All are welcome to attend.

Sue Lui, age 98, of West Des Moines, passed away peacefully. She was born on March 28, 1927.

Sue lived an extraordinary life defined by resilience, service, family, and an enduring love of food and community. She fled to South Korea during the Japanese occupation of China during World War II, where she would remain for decades. During the Korean War, Sue served under General (and later President) Dwight D. Eisenhower and General Douglas MacArthur at the United States military base in Pusan, South Korea.

Sue gave birth to all three of her children in South Korea and never returned to China after the war. She later relocated to Taiwan before ultimately immigrating to the United States in the 1980s, becoming a proud and loyal U.S. citizen.

Sue was a gifted and passionate chef and the longtime owner of The Mandarin in Beaverdale, which she operated for decades. In 2009, her children reopened The Mandarin in Clive, continuing the family legacy she built. The Mandarin still operates today, and Sue remained a weekly visitor, delighting in time spent with her family and the loyal patrons who cherished her food and friendship.

She will always be remembered as an amazing mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, chef, and matriarch; someone whose strength, warmth, and dedication shaped generations.

Sue was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Yao Ting Lui, who passed away in August 2008, and by her two older brothers.

She is survived by her three children: Jade Chyan (Kevin), YuPing Wong (Hon), and Kevin Liu (Joanne); Grandchildren: Gino Liu, Allen Jack Ma, Ouhong Wang (Lu), Jessica Menz (Jeff), Emily Liu, and Evan Wong; and Great-grandchildren: Josie Liu, Isaac Rieper, Noah Liu, Kaitlyn Menz, and Braden Menz. She is also survived by her sister, Judy Pei, as well as many nieces, nephews, and grand and great-grand nieces and nephews, including (but not limited to): Dick Pei, Sandy Pei, Vivian Pei, Tony Pei, Marcus Pei, Miles Pei, Li Liu (Sophia) and CJ Liu.

Sue’s legacy lives on through her family, her cooking, and the countless lives she touched with her strength, generosity, love, and her unforgettable spitfire personality.