Dr. Hsien and Jane Cheng

Jane (Han-Jun) Cheng passed away on November 5th, 2021.  She battled cancer, diabetes, and congestive heart failure yet continued to demonstrate courage to address all life challenges in stride.  Despite the pain, she remained a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend until the end.

She was born to Yue Hwang and Shin-Fen Tsui on February 20, 1932 in Liyang, China (Jiangsu province).  She lived through WWII, the Chinese Civil War, adapting to life in Taiwan, and facing challenges as a foreign student in United States beginning in 1959.  She was known for her heart for people, compassionate and giving spirit and bountiful energy.

She graduated from National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan, said goodbye to her family, and came to the United States with a few hundred dollars in her pocket and earned her Master of Science in Library Science from the University of Utah.  She and her husband, Dr. H.C. Cheng were subsequently married in 1960 in Utah following completion of her graduate studies.

She served as the Senior East Asian Catalog Librarian at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City for 28 years retiring in 2010.  She also taught mandarin as an adjunct Chinese instructor at UMKC for 10 years, retiring in 2011.  She also served as a librarian at the Upper Arlington Public Library in Columbus, Ohio for many years.

She enjoyed travelling with her husband embarking on multiple journeys to Alaska, Argentina, Japan, Taiwan, China and many others and being involved with her local church and Chinese cultural organizations.

Jane preceded her husband, Dr. H.C. Cheng in passing and is survived by sons Chris and Jim, daughter-in-law Dawnn, and two granddaughters Katie and Ashlyn.

Dr. Hsien-Chen (H.C.) Cheng passed away on November 9th, 2021. He endured debilitating arthritis with grace and beat lung cancer once, but succumbed to the cancer relapse.  He never complained about his own pain and mentally supported his wife Jane through her battle with heart failure and associated medical conditions.

H.C. was born in Changzhou, China (Jiangsu province) on September 21, 1927.   He lived through WWII, the Chinese Civil War, adapting to life in Taiwan, and facing challenges as a foreign student in United States beginning in 1959.  He and his wife Jane subsequently married in 1960 in Utah following completion of her graduate studies.

He graduated from National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan, and earned his Master of Science in Biochemistry from Washington University in St. Louis and doctorate (Ph.D) in Physiology from the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

He completed his post doctorate work at both the University of Cincinnati and University of Kansas Medical Center.  He served as a research doctor and scientist for 24 years at the University of Kansas Medical Center in the OB/GYN department.  He served as a subject matter expert in stem cell research and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) related matters.  His personal passions included growing and cultivating interest in peonies and playing the Chinese fiddle/violin (Erhu).

H.C. is preceded by his wife Jane in passing and survived by his sons Chris and Jim, daughter-in-law Dawnn, and two granddaughters Katie and Ashlyn.