Mao Thao Xiong

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


    February 25th, 1923 - July 16th, 2017

 

Arlington Cemetery

4141 S 27th St, Milwaukee, WI 53221

Plot P21

Family

Mao (Thao) Xiong or Nam You Thao Xiong is our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother.

Mao (Thao) Xiong was born into the Thao family on February 25, 1923. Her father’s name is You Vue Thao and her mother’s name is Shua Xiong. Mao is the fifth child of her family. She has five brothers and three sisters. Her brothers are Youa Vang Thao (deceased), Zong Kai Thao (deceased), Cha Chang Thao, Chai Xou Thao and Shong Ger Thao. Her sisters are Khoua (Thao) Xiong (deceased), Mai (Thao) Vang (deceased) and La (Thao) Xiong (deceased).

            In 1946, Mao married You Thao Xiong. You Thao Xiong is the second child of Nya Lue Xiong and Zang (Thao) Xiong. Mao and You Thao Xiong were blessed with 12 children, seven sons and five daughters. Their names are: Dang Xiong  (deceased), Phoua (Xiong) Thao  (deceased), Qhua Xiong  (deceased), Nya Chou Xiong, Khoua Xiong Vang  (deceased), Xoua Mark Xiong, William Joua Xiong, Pao Xiong  (deceased), Nou Xiong Yang, Kang Xiong, Vwg Xiong  (deceased), and Donald Chie Xiong.

Phoua Xiong Thao (deceased) was married to Cher Yee Thao. They had one son name Blia Cher Thao. Blia Cher Thao is married to Lou Yang. They have three sons and five daughters: Khai, Lue, Soua, Pang Nhia, Lecian, Ricki, Bruce and Nadalee. Khai Thao is married to Khou Xiong and they have one son and two daughters: Kayleeanna, Kadandra and Karter. Soua is married to Tonnee Vang Lecian has two daughters: Leciana and Nai.

Nya Chou Xiong is married to Shoua Yang. They have four sons and five daughters: Zang, Chue Neng, Song, Fue, La, Tou Chen, Christopher Lue, Michelle, and Amy. Zang Xiong is married to Nom Thao and they have three daughters and one son: Isabella, Sean, Sophia and Olivia. Chue Neng Xiong is married to Kau Nou Yang and they have two sons: Jared and Peyton. Song Xiong is married to Joseph Buck. La Xiong is married to Daryl Berendes and they have one daughter: Delilah.

            Khoua Xiong Vang (deceased) was married to Boua Sue Vang. They have five sons and eight daughters: Kathleen Ka, Xao, Lou, Jamee, Leng, Pang Cha, Jerry,Teresa Xer, Michelle Mao, Sunshine Nou, Scotty Vue, Richard Dang and Rita Iown. Kathleen Ka Vang is married to Kia Yang and they have two sons and one daughter: Paul, Ada and Adam. Xao Vang is married to Hiede Her and they have two sons and two daughters: Tyler, Alison, Isaac and Valerie. Lou Vang is married to Doua Xiong. Jamee Vang is married to Mang Vang and they have four sons and two daughters: Nathan, Natalie, Noah, Nolan, Nina and Nevan.Jerry Vang is married to Xue Moua and they have one son and one daughter: Kash and Oona.

Xoua Mark Xiong was married to May Xee Vang. They have two sons and four daughters: Foua, Maiko, Carleen, Winston, Alex, and Pamela. Maiko Xiong is married to Daniel Hoye; will give birth to a son named Landon. Winston Xiong is married to Alyssa Her and they have one daughter: Alyson. Xoua Mark Xiong was married to Bao Lee. They have one daughter: Kimberly. Xoua Mark Xiong was married to Sarina Bao Yang. They have two sons and two daughters: Austine, Precious, Trisha and Evan.

            William Joua Xiong is married to Jackie Xia Her. They have one son and two daughters: Peggy, Alfred and Sarah.

            Nou Xiong Yang is married to Bee Yang. She has one daughter: Ka Her and five step-sons: Tou Kong, Tou Moua, Xayxana, Toula, and Luka. Tou Kong has one son: Corey. Tou Moua is married to Mary Vang and they have one son and two daughters: Caspian Tao, Skly Gao Zong and Avery Gao Nou. Xayxana is married to Britney Pahoua Yang and they have two sons and two daughters: Emily, Donovan, Anabelle and Joshua. Toula is married to Hollie Xiong and they have two daughters: Seela and Mya. Luka is married to Maiya Vue and they have one son and one daughter: Leona and Lieve.

            Kang Xiong has two sons and five daughters: Jackie, Linda, Judy, Jennifer, Lisa, Ronald and Richard.

            Donald Chie Xiong is married to Mai Mor Yang. They have three sons and one daughter: Edward, Nicholas, Walter and Charlotte.

 

 

Biography

            Mao and You Thao Xiong began their life together living in their native land of Laos. They were both hard workers who raised their 12 children, became successful farmers and tended to their livestock. Mao is a person that had a lot of ambition which contributed to her ability to care for the abundance of crops and animals that the family had which included cattle, buffalo, goats, dogs, pigs, and chickens.  Her energy, enthusiasm and hard work allowed her to not only provide for her immediate family but also her siblings and in-laws.  Mao’s dedication to the well-being of her extended family gained her the respect of family and community.

In December of 1979, Mao and You Thao immigrated to the United States. In making this move, Mao and You Thao fundamentally changed the future for their family and its future generations. While Mao and You Thao had a good life in Laos, they were selfless in their regard for future generations. They arrived in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and lived there for five years. Mao was primarily a homemaker and put her energy into making sure the rest of the family was as well-equipped as they could be for the challenges of life in the new surroundings.  In 1982, her beloved husband of 36 years, You Thao Xiong, passed away.    In 1985 Mao moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to be closer to the Xiong relatives. 

While living in Milwaukee, Mao enjoyed having the opportunity to take care of each grandchild that lived close by until they went to school.  She loved spending her time sewing Hmong clothes for each one of her grandchildren while listening to hmoob lug txaj.  She was an expert at making Hmong rice wine and shared it with family and friends.  Mao had healing hands, a skill for which many people sought her out. People with a wide range of ailments would come to Mao for her expertise and would consistently experience relief from their afflictions.  Mao had a passion for gardening and always had a bountiful garden crop of corn, mustard greens, peppers, cucumbers, herbs, watermelon, sugar snap peas and many other fruits and vegetable which she would share freely amongst the family. The pride and joy of her life was seeing her grandchildren succeed in school, work and life.  She was always quick to offer sage advice on both life’s little dilemmas and big decisions. 

One of Mao’s proudest moments was when she became a citizen of the United States.  With citizenship came many new opportunities including the ability to vote and travel back to Laos for visits under a US Passport.  In addition to becoming a citizen, Mao was long recognized by her community as a healer and in March of 2000 she was awarded the title of Master Herbal Healer.

Mao’s life was full and her happiness was apparent in her later years. Her approach to life inspired so many family members and it lives on in the current generation, to eventually be passed on to generations to come. Mao’s legacy continues in the family she leaves behind - 6 children, 49 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren.

We are better people for what you have taught us, Mom & Grandma!  Your strength is the bond that keeps the family together. Your wisdom will live on as we pass it to our own children and grandchildren so they will know who you are!