Ming-Quen Shum 岑銘焜
March 12, 2021
January 1, 1929 – March 4, 2021
With family by his side, Ming-Quen Shum, 92, passed away peacefully at the Health Science Center, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on Thursday, March 4, 2021.
Ming was born in 1929 in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, to a large family of 5 boys and 1 girl. During the turbulent years of WWII, Ming’s family escaped to Macau (a Portuguese colony). A highlight of Ming’s high school years in Macau was meeting Luzie Shuk-Wah Lee (李淑華) in Grade 10. When WWII ended, Ming’s family relocated back to Guangdong and he and Luzie’s budding relationship was interrupted.
Ming went to Sun Yat-Sen University (中山大學) in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China to study Electrical Engineering. Ming’s graduation coincided with the start of the Korean War. The Chinese government was enlisting engineering students to help North Korea. Ming was able to obtain a family-visit permit from the local police station and subsequently escaped to Hong Kong (HK). This second and final escape from China led to his reuniting with Luzie.
Ming and Luzie married on September 19, 1956 (mid-autumn August moon festival) in HK.
Ming comes from an entrepreneurial-mind family, as Ming’s father and his uncles operated successful businesses producing plastic shoes, plastic flowers, Christmas lights and selling diesel fuel during the 1940s and 1950s.
In 1957, one year after their marriage, Ming left his engineering job and struck out on his own using HK$4000 they had saved. Ming toiled for many months to design, manufacture and sell his own plastics bag extrusion machine under the newly founded Nam Kwan Industry Ltd. (南光實業有限公司). The company became successful and developed a good reputation in the industry.
1974 was a watershed year. With foresight toward the eventual handover of HK back to China in 1997, and looking toward a better life for their children, the family applied for immigration to Winnipeg, Canada in 1973 where one of Ming’s younger brother (Roger) had previously immigrated. The application was unexpectedly and quickly approved, and with a 6-month departure requirement by June 30, 1974, the family bid farewell to HK and the extended family. This began the next chapter in their lives as Ming and Luzie settled in Winnipeg which remains their home to this day after 46+ years.
Ming established Allied Pioneer Ltd. as the only local (Manitoba and surrounding region) producer and distributor of plastic bags for retail, commercial, industrial, and agricultural use. In 1995, Ming began construction on an industrial building in Fort Garry. By 1996, the building became the new location for Allied Pioneer Ltd, along with his second business, Ming’s Emporium (household gifts and decorations), and providing rental space to other small businesses and even a social Bridge club. They sold the businesses and the entire site in 2015, finally retiring from active commerce at the grand old age of 86.
Ming was predeceased by his parents; his elder brother Ming Kai 銘佳; and his younger sister Shiu Yee 粹意 (George You Chiu Ip 葉宇朝). Ming is survived by Luzie, his loving wife of 64 years; his children, Peter (Linda) of Toronto, Philip (Eunice) of Toronto, Margaret of Winnipeg, David (Joanne) of Northborough, MA, USA, Bill (Joanne) of Victoria, and Mary (ex-husband Patrick) of Winnipeg; grandchildren, Michael (Nika), Christina (Desmond); Leighton; Andrew, Jennifer; Caitlyn; Kevin, Samantha and Lindsay Wu; great granddaughters Mackenzie and Audrey. Ming is also survived by his sister-in-law (Wei Kun Mui 梅慧勤), brothers Ming Tong 銘堂 (Ho Wan Chong 莊淑琼), Ming Fong 銘芳(Yuen Lam Lee 李婉琳), and Ming Tuen 銘端 (Yin Ying Ngai 倪燕英), and many treasured nieces and nephews.
Our family wishes to thank his family doctor, Dr Casey Woo, for his care over many years. We also thank Homecare Services and especially Ana and Suhua during this past year. The family is grateful for the care provided by the staff both in ER and MICU at the Health Science Center. A special thank-you to nurses Jacqueline, Chelsea, and Wendy in MICU. Your kindness and compassion to our families both in person and virtually during our extended Zoom video with Ming was greatly appreciated.
A private burial took place on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at Brookside Cemetery.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Ming-Quen Shum 岑銘焜 January 1 1929 – March 4 2021..
Voyage Funeral Homes & Crematorium
Décès pour la Ville: Winnipeg, Province: Manitoba