Retired Covenant pastor Rev. Chun Sam Yi passed away
on June 11, 2019, in Las Vegas,
Nevada. He was 87.
Sam was born to Moon Bin and Kwang Sub Yi, a farmer, in Hwang Hae Do, Korea, on December 13, 1931. He was immersed in the Christian community that would define his lifelong career from an early age. During his time as a choir member at his church, the Korean War broke out. He, his mother, and his older sister, Soon Ok Na, were the only ones who were able to escape the war zone.
After the war, he taught at the Calvin Theological Seminary in Seoul, Korea, before immigrating to the United States for the benefit of his four children’s education. In 1969, Sam planted a church in Marina, California, accepting a position as lead pastor for what would become the Evangelical Covenant Church in Marina. In 1990, he graduated from the Golden Gate Theological Seminary in San Francisco with a doctor of ministry degree. He continued in ministry at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Marina for a total of 35 years.
Sam was a preacher at heart. He was kind and soft-spoken, and always had time to answer a question or a solve problem, no matter how small. He is dearly missed by his loved ones, who celebrate the fact that he is at peace with his personal Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Sam was survived by his sons, Mil Nam, Mil Am, Mil Hwan, and Mil Un; his grandchildren, Chris, Allie, Candice, and Catherine; daughters-in-law, Chong Hee, Nan Hee, and In sook; grand-dog Momo and great‐grand‐dog, Brindle.
Sam was buried at the Palm Northwest Cemetery in Las Vegas on June 18, in a service officiated by the United States Navy.
Peace be to his memory.
