An Trân, 62, of Lake Charles died Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023 in the comfort of his home.

Mr. Trân was born in Nha Trang in South Vietnam to Francis Ho Trân and Anna Tu Thi Trân.  At a young age, he identified with his humble patron saint St. Joseph and loved taking care of his family.  In 1979, he, by himself, left his dear, newly Communist, and war-torn homeland on a boat to forge a better life for the family.  He met his one true love and eventual wife in a refugee camp in the Philippines.  He learned English and received his legal papers to come to America in 1982.  He respectfully worked manual jobs and saved funds to contribute to his father-in-law’s own dream of establishing Jim’s Seafood, which currently remains a successful business in Lake Charles.  He worked without accepting pay for his father-in-law while beginning studies at Sowela Technical Institute.  He obtained an associate degree and started an entry level position with Northrup Grumman.  A well-respected man of superior work ethic and diligent job performance, he quickly advanced within the company, and retired a lead mechanic of the Boeing B-52 Bombers.  He further saved money and filled out legal applications to slowly bring his family members to America.  He took pride in attending many of their weddings, baptisms, confirmations, and graduations.  He was the pillar for his family at hospital bedsides and funerals.  He was a member of Our Lady Queen of Heaven and then attended St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church.  Mr. Trân enjoyed beginning each day with both physical and mental exercise of Tai Chi.   He also enjoyed fruit gardening, fishing, and the tranquility of being on the water.  He was a simple man of family, faith, and prayer and instilled in his children the value of each.  He was an especially devoted dad and grandfather.  Mr. Trân will be remembered for his generosity in giving to many families in need, both in America and Vietnam.  He will be most remembered for his kind heart, content spirit, ability to truly forgive, and merciful love.

He leaves to honor his memory, his wife of 40 years, Rosa Oanh Vu (Anna) of Lake Charles; daughter, Mary Van Trân Meeks and husband, Landen, of Paducah, Ky; three grandchildren, Paul Hai, Jack Viet, and Claire Xuan Meeks of Paducah, Ky.; brother, John Tan Trân and wife, Hanh, of Houston, Texas; four sisters, Catherine Lanh Thi Trân of Oslo, Norway and Mary Phuc Thi Trân, Martha Duc Thi Trân, and Catherine Tu Thi Trân, all of Nha Trang, Vietnam and many nieces and nephews.  He also leaves his extended family, brothers-in-law, Vien Vu and wife, Thuy, Huy Vu and wife, Thu, and Hanh Vu and wife, Katherine and sisters-in-law, Nga Nguyen and husband, Yen, and Thuy Nguyen and husband, Huy.

He was preceded in death by his beloved son, Peter Son Thai Trân; parents and two brothers, Joseph Ho Trân and John Phac Trân.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023 at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.  Monsignor Jace Eskind will officiate.  Interment services will follow at Consolata Cemetery.  

A Rosary Friday will begin at 6 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Home in Lake Charles.  Visitation Friday will be from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. and will resume Saturday at 9 a.m. in the funeral home.

Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneral home.net.