Somphaeng Syvixay

SOMPHAENG SYVIXAY

Iowa City

Somphaeng "Meo" Syvixay, 35, of Iowa City, passed away Saturday, June 14, 2014. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 21, followed by a traditional Laotian service, all at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

A memorial fund has been established in his memory or you may go to www.gofundme.com/

ad3en4 and contribute to his family.

Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web at

www.gayandciha.com.

Meo was born Sept. 4, 1978, in Laos, to Thongsane and Khammerng Syvixay. His family immigrated to America in 1986, settling in West Liberty, Iowa, where he attended grade school. The Syvixay family moved to San Diego, Calif., and lived for several years

before Meo moved back to Iowa in 2006. He began working for IAC and eventually met his wife, Danielle, and became a

father to his biggest joy, Somphaeng Jr.

Meo enjoyed outings with his son to the mall and out to eat with his family. You would often see the father-son duo strolling around town looking for the newest Jordans or clothes. He always said he was "fresh to death." He also enjoyed listening to music, playing cards, drawing, cooking and being the life of the party. His entire body was covered with very unique body art that was an expression of his life in all aspects of it. It was admired by all who knew him and he always had a story to tell about each piece.

Meo Syvixay was the kind of man who walked into the room and made everyone laugh with his quirky sense of humor. He always had jokes to tell that sometimes only made sense to him but the whole room would laugh because he was such a big kid at heart. Meo brought smiles, laughter, wisdom and compassion to everyone he encountered. Family was the highlight of Meo's life spending most of his time with his wife, his son and his immediate family. Somphaeng Jr. was his everything. He often kissed him and told him "I waited 34 years for you!"

He strived to make his family's hopes and dreams come true. Even in his passing he paved a way for that to still happen. Meo's values were instilled in him by his father and he admired him most. He would consider himself lucky if he was even half the man his father was. His father was the epitome of who he aspired to be. Meo will always be remembered by the footprint he left on this world with his kind heart and consideration for others.

Meo was preceded in death by his father, Thongsane Syvixay, who passed away on May 8, 2014; and his great-aunt, Sangwan Xayasene in France.

He is survived by his wife, Danielle; son, Somphaeng Jr.; his mother, Khammerng in San Diego, Calif.; brothers and sisters, Viengkham, Khamla (Ma), Saikham, KhamVai (Dennis), Somchanh, Noi and Phothong; and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, aunts and uncles.