Tan SEETALA KHAMJOI

KHAMJOI, SEETALA, THONGSOUK, THATH, PHETXOUMPHONE, THANPENG, NOUNPONG

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/1/2009 at 11:22:38

September 23, 2008
Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA

Tan Khamjoi, 44, of Webster City, died Thursday, September 18, 2008. A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, with Rev. Travis Schmidt and Rev. Kham Phiwtong officiating. Burial will be in the Cass Township Cemetery, north of Webster City. Visitation will be at St. Paul's from 5-8 p.m. Friday and prior to the service on Saturday.

Tan Khamjoi, son of Ta and Sy Seetala, was born November 12, 1963 at Sayabola, Laos. He received his education at Sayaboury. In April of 1980, he married Huan Thongsouk at Thailand. The couple moved to the United States November 25, 1985. On June 21, 1997, they moved to Webster City from Stockton, California. He had been employed at Tasler Pallet, Webster City Custom Meats, Arrow-Acme and Mary Ann's Deli.

Tan is survived by his wife, Huan; daughters and sons-in-law, Bualoy (Rosie) Thongsouk and husband, Sareth Thath, of Inman, S.C.; Boonnyou (Tina) and Aenoi Phetxoumphone; Bounsou Thongsouk; Souphan (Jessica) Thongsouk; son, Demetry Thongsouk, all of Webster City; his adopted mother, Joy Khamjoi of Stockton, CA; 6 grandchildren; sisters, Vanh Thanpeng, Chan Khamjoi, Kieng Khamjoi and Khai Nounpong, all of Stockton, CA; brothers, Bounh Khamjoi of Austin, MN; Pee Seetala of Laos; many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; adopted father, Kean Khamjoi; brothers, Paa, Naen, Som and Thong Seetala.

Tan was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Tan was always a strong hearted man, even though his stature was small. He was a avid outdoorsman and loved to hunt, fish, camp and be outside with his family. He was always very supportive and positive to his family. Singing was an enjoyment to him. After burial at Cass Township Cemetery, a gathering for lunch will be held at the A.C.E. building.

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Two WC men dead in tragic hunting accident
By Lori Berglund — Daily Freeman-Journal Editor
Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA
September 19, 2008

Two WC men dead in tragic hunting accident

It was a beautiful late summer day that invited everyone to soak up the warmth and sunshine before it slips away. But in the blink of an eye - in the flash of a second - it changed tragically for two Webster City men and their families.

Dead are Dee Phonvilai, 48, and Tan Khamjoi, 44, both of Webster City. Funerals services are pending for both of these men with Foster's Funeral Home. Pending notices appear on Page 3; full obituaries will be printed when available.

The two men were apparently hunting squirrel at about 10 a.m. Thursday in a wooded area west of Woolstock when one of the men accidentally shot the other in the head.

That man immediately called 911, summoning a multitude of emergency responders to the property on Emmett Avenue in Wright County. The site is located west of the rock quarry on C-70.

The hunter, who has not been named by the Wright County Sheriff's Office, had met officers upon their arrival at the scene and was assisting them in locating the first victim. But apparently, and sadly, overwhelmed by grief at the accident, the tragedy was doubled when this hunter then took his own life, firing one more shot.

The Wright County Sheriff's Office has not indicated if both shots were fired from the same gun.

Officers were close by when the second shooting occurred. No shots were fired by officers, according to the Wright County Sheriff's Office.

There is no indication of foul play, only what was supposed to be a happy day turned tragically sad for all involved.

The investigation is continuing by the Wright County Sheriff's Office and the Iowa DCI. The Iowa State Patrol, Iowa DNR, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, Clarion Police, and Eagle Grove Police assisted at the scene.