Osborne Siulung Wong

Osborne Siu-lung Wong passed away peacefully on June 27, 2026 in Johnson County, Kansas.

The second child and first son of Kam-Fai and Wai-Yee Wong, Osborne entered the world on September 10, 1954 in Hong Kong—then a British Crown Colony. He grew up there with his four siblings, Eva, David, Timothy, and Alice, sharing a small apartment in the then-humble neighborhood of Pak Sha Road. Ping pong, soccer, and hunting trips with his father were favorite pastimes.

After graduating from Rosary Hill Catholic School, Osborne, known as “Oz” or “Ozzie” to friends, packed a single suitcase and made his way to an unlikely place: Warrensburg, Missouri. There, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Central Missouri State University; the first college graduate in his family. Perhaps more importantly, Oz also found in Warrensburg his first American family: good friends with whom he forged lifelong friendships (between beers).

From CMSU, Osborne moved to Lawrence, Kansas. He obtained his Ph.D. in Chemistry from The University of Kansas, joined the faculty, and started a family with Miriam Strand (Lenexa, KS). Always curious, he next turned to business. He patented a drug, started and sold his own business, and earned his M.B.A from KU, before settling into a quiet retirement centered on family. He enjoyed golf, reading, long walks with his faithful dog Rudy, and traveling with his partner of almost 30 years, Kate Charman (Berwick, Australia).

He also maintained throughout his life the Christian faith first cultivated at Rosary Hill, and prayed every morning.

Always quick to find the humor in any situation, Oz met the trials of his last months with the same grace and humor that had earlier carried him across the world. He made fast friends with caretakers, especially at St. Luke’s and Claridge Court, to whom he and his family are forever grateful.

Osborne leaves a legacy through his children, Ingrid Wong (and her husband Michael Owens) of Prairie Village, KS, and Eric Wong (and his wife Alyssa Wong) of Dallas, TX; and through his four grandchildren, whom he adored: Gabriel, Cameron, Bennett, and Madelyn. All will treasure his memory as “Papa”/“Papi,” a beloved father, grandfather, and joyful mentor. He is also survived by his siblings Eva, Timothy, and Alice; and his cherished partner Kate.

Osborne will be interred next to his father at Johnson County Memorial Gardens and Funeral Chapel, where his memorial service will be held on August 8, 2026 at 10:00AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the following funds at KU, both named after mentors and friends of Osborne from his time at the University: the K. Barbara Schowen Undergraduate Chemistry Scholarship; or the Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Awards.