Obituary for John Lee Chu
John Lee Chu entered eternal life on Thursday, January 27, 2022. He was 67 years old.
John was born in Neptune on April 1, 1954, youngest son to the late Esther (Lee) and Danny Chu. He grew up in Freehold and Flemington, where he spent much of his childhood filled with cherished memories with his siblings on the family farm, before settling down with his wife and starting a family in Gillette, where he would spend the next 40 years.
He graduated from Hunterdon Central High School in 1972 and earned his bachelor's degree from Rider College in NJ after spending some of his most cherished time discovering himself at University of Hawaii.
John worked as an IT Manager and achieved his lifelong goal of retiring in 2017. He spent his retirement doing what he loves most- relaxing, playing his guitar, writing music, watching movies, and spending time with family.
John loved Martial Arts. He practiced Wing Chun for 4 years and Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan for over 20 years, achieving Master Level as a 4th degree Black Belt. He was also accomplished in the guitar and harmonica, writing and playing his favorite songs, often ending the night serenading his friends and family. He also loved the beach, swimming in the ocean, and taking family vacations. Above all else, John loved to have a good time with the people he loved. He is perhaps best known for hosting crowds of friends and family and leading them in a night full of laughter, food and music.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Lydia Chu, his son Michael John Chu and fiancé Kayla, his daughter Kelly S. Gutowski and husband Matthew, and his son Daniel Lee Chu and fiancé Michael Del Mauro, as well as brother Gregory Chu and his fiance Bing, sister Nancy and her husband Robert Bjerke and sister Florence and her husband Joseph McGinn. He is also survived by his 4 grandchildren, Macklin, Gradyn, Mia and Presley.
Visitation for John will be Saturday, February 5, 2022 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM at the Valley Memorial Funeral Home at 1012 Valley Rd., Gillette, NJ. A Funeral Service will follow at 1:00 PM -1:30 PM at the Valley Memorial Funeral Home. A virtual Zoom will be available for both the visitation and Funeral Service at: Meeting ID: 850 4208 1898, Passcode: 140195. The family will do their best to address those at home between 12:30 and 12:45 PM. A burial will follow as we lay John to rest at the Prospect Hill Cemetery in Flemington, NJ with a repast for close friends and family at Canton Palace at 216 West Main Street in Somerville, NJ around 4:00. Masks optional
The Chu family asks that memorial contributions be made to: Save the Music Foundation at www.savethemusic.org
For more information, visit www.valleymemorialfuneralhome.net
John was born in Neptune on April 1, 1954, youngest son to the late Esther (Lee) and Danny Chu. He grew up in Freehold and Flemington, where he spent much of his childhood filled with cherished memories with his siblings on the family farm, before settling down with his wife and starting a family in Gillette, where he would spend the next 40 years.
He graduated from Hunterdon Central High School in 1972 and earned his bachelor's degree from Rider College in NJ after spending some of his most cherished time discovering himself at University of Hawaii.
John worked as an IT Manager and achieved his lifelong goal of retiring in 2017. He spent his retirement doing what he loves most- relaxing, playing his guitar, writing music, watching movies, and spending time with family.
John loved Martial Arts. He practiced Wing Chun for 4 years and Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan for over 20 years, achieving Master Level as a 4th degree Black Belt. He was also accomplished in the guitar and harmonica, writing and playing his favorite songs, often ending the night serenading his friends and family. He also loved the beach, swimming in the ocean, and taking family vacations. Above all else, John loved to have a good time with the people he loved. He is perhaps best known for hosting crowds of friends and family and leading them in a night full of laughter, food and music.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Lydia Chu, his son Michael John Chu and fiancé Kayla, his daughter Kelly S. Gutowski and husband Matthew, and his son Daniel Lee Chu and fiancé Michael Del Mauro, as well as brother Gregory Chu and his fiance Bing, sister Nancy and her husband Robert Bjerke and sister Florence and her husband Joseph McGinn. He is also survived by his 4 grandchildren, Macklin, Gradyn, Mia and Presley.
Visitation for John will be Saturday, February 5, 2022 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM at the Valley Memorial Funeral Home at 1012 Valley Rd., Gillette, NJ. A Funeral Service will follow at 1:00 PM -1:30 PM at the Valley Memorial Funeral Home. A virtual Zoom will be available for both the visitation and Funeral Service at: Meeting ID: 850 4208 1898, Passcode: 140195. The family will do their best to address those at home between 12:30 and 12:45 PM. A burial will follow as we lay John to rest at the Prospect Hill Cemetery in Flemington, NJ with a repast for close friends and family at Canton Palace at 216 West Main Street in Somerville, NJ around 4:00. Masks optional
The Chu family asks that memorial contributions be made to: Save the Music Foundation at www.savethemusic.org
For more information, visit www.valleymemorialfuneralhome.net