George Youi Syharath Sayavong, 51, of Sioux City, Iowa, passed away at home on Friday, December 1, 2017, following a courageous 3 year battle with cancer. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel.
George was born in Laos on April 16, 1966, to Sao and Khampai (Syharath) Sayavong. He escaped to a refugee camp at the Thai border as a young boy, where he learned English through UN sponsored classes. He immigrated to Iowa when he was 21, and studied and later graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree in Criminal Justice from the University of South Dakota. George became a naturalized citizen in 1993.
George met his wife Toni while working at Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Sioux City, and the two were married on Saturday, September 3, 1994, in Salix, Iowa. He became a step-dad to Toni’s daughter Annah, and the couple would grow their family by two more beautiful daughters: Hanley, who was born in 1994, and Eliot, who was born in 1996.
Youi began his 25-year career in 1992, as an Outreach Specialist for Mr. George Boykin at the Sanford Center in Sioux City. He also served as Supervisor for the past several years. Youi’s accomplishments include the youth he served, his passion for soccer, and founding the Siouxland Asian Fest.