Moon Ja Sa

Moon Ja Sa

August 2, 1940 — February 27, 2025

Beloved mother, joyous friend, loving wife, faithful & accepting of all

“Love … is the song of all the angels of God.” William Law, Priest

Moon Ja Sa (Kang), 84, peacefully joined her Lord on February 27, 2025. Her life radiated with faith, finding strength in prayer and sharing her belief in spiritual healing with all she touched. Throughout her life, Moon's unwavering faith and deep love for God guided her every step. She found strength and comfort in prayer, often sharing the healing touch of her faith with family and friends. Her spiritual journey brought her peace in difficult times and joy in moments of celebration. Moon's devotion to Christ was evident in her compassionate nature and gracious spirit, touching the lives of all who knew her. Moon loved this quote by Victor Hugo, “Winter is on my head but eternal spring is in my heart.” She had a youthful spirit and optimism, and an enduring vitality and positive outlook even as her health declined.

Even as cancer returned and memory faded, her joy bloomed brighter. Moon embraced her caregivers at Apple Creek Place and later welcomed the Compassus hospice team with equal warmth when they began caring for her in September 2024. Both groups became extensions of her loving family during her final months. She loved everyone who took care of her and befriended all who took the time to know her. She made friends wherever she went, and her positivity touched everyone she met. Her daughters, Soozung from Philadelphia and Mimi from London visited her often during her final months. She found peace listening to classical music, often whispering "beautiful" while enjoying her favorite pieces.

While her health declined, she never complained and seemed free of worry, quick to laugh, chuckling quietly to herself at things she found amusing and full of love for everyone around her. Her morning devotions filled countless notebooks, each page containing her reflective journaling and heartfelt prayers, her beloved texts highlighted with carefully marked passages that spoke to her heart. Moon was creative and artistic, transforming every space into a warm home. Her playful silliness paired with determination and fierce loyalty to her family defined her character. Until her final days, Moon's gentle spirit filled rooms with classical melodies, her piano playing, daily devotions, and studies. Her artistic soul transformed spaces into sanctuaries, her quiet laughter a testimony to finding beauty in life's simplest moments.

Moon served faithfully alongside her beloved husband, The Reverend Zi Hyung Sa, until his passing in 2008. Together they chartered Wisconsin's first Korean United Methodist Church and three more congregations. After his death, she reflected, "I feel connected with Zi because of his effort to lead these churches – with his prayer and love of God."

Moon was born in Korea where she attended Ewha Womans University, earning her B.A. in Christian Education. Throughout her life, she maintained close friendships with people from her childhood and university years, connections that spanned from Korea to the United States. She relocated from Seoul to Appleton to wed Zi, and consistently demonstrated unwavering pride in and support for her husband and two daughters. Her letters often contained wisdom: "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for by doing, some have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." (Hebrews 13:2) She lived by her favorite Lowell quote, "There are two weaknesses: that which breaks, and that which bends," to which Moon wrote simply, "I learned how to bend, never disappointed." Moon never lost her capacity for wonder in nature and she will be remembered for her genuine delight in people and her profound love for all animals.

Moon is survived by her loving daughters Soozung Sa Rankin in Philadelphia and Miraan (Mimi) Sa in London; Soozung’s husband, Brian A. Rankin, and her grandson, Robert Zi Allen Rankin; and Mimi’s husband, Philippe Denis. She is also survived by her nephews, Suk Hoon, Kyung Hoon, and Ji Hoon Kang in Seoul, South Korea.

A memorial visitation will be held for Moon from 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 N. Superior St, Appleton, WI 54911 with a memorial service led by The Reverend Dong Su Lee to follow at 4:30 PM. Reception at 5:30 PM.

Many friends and family members are aware of how Moon cherished the fact that her husband and both daughters attended Lawrence University. Her deep connection to LU was further strengthened by the caring relationships many faculty and staff maintained with her, extending the same lifelong bonds they had formed with her husband. Moon's profound faith and love for those around her remains her enduring legacy. Her family has indicated that sharing memories of her is all that is needed. However, if you’d like to give, in place of flowers, the family requests donations to Lawrence University's fund for international students in need as a fitting tribute to her memory. You can select “International Student Scholarships” under “designation” when the donation is made: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/25681/donations/new?amt=. There will be the option to indicate the gift is in memory of Moon Ja Sa.

For those who would prefer to make other gestures, donations to an animal rescue organization of your choice in her name would be welcome, or you may order a memorial tree or send flowers to the family in Moon's memory (see details below).