An Lovan

An Lovan, 95, of Des Moines and formerly of Oskaloosa, passed away Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. An Lovan, son of Manh and Moua (Lothi) Lovan, was born June 10, 1929, in North Vietnam. When An was young, he and his family moved to Laos to escape the communist regime. While in Laos, he met a young lady named Dia Cathi, and the two were married in 1959. An and Dia were blessed with the birth of seven children. An worked for Mitsui & Company Ltd. from June1969 to May 1975 as a chauffeur for their management team. On May 12, 1975, An, Dia, and family moved to Thailand to seek refuge from the communist party that had taken Laos. On July 21, 1976, the family came to Muscatine, Iowa and resided there for two years before settling in Oskaloosa in 1978. While living in Oskaloosa, An worked for Vermeer Manufacturing as a welder. In his spare time, An enjoyed fishing, hunting, the occasional gambling trip, and watching all things Kung Fu and Walker Texas Ranger episodes. He and Dia also had a passion for gardening, most of the time growing more than they needed and giving extra produce to family and friends. Spending time with family was his most cherished pastime. As he became older, An and Dia moved to Des Moines to be closer to family so that they could assist with daily tasks. An is survived by his wife, Dia Cathi, his six children; Ken Lovan, of Minneapolis, MN., Bong (David) Belding of Altoona, Deng (Richard) Sabelka, of Indianola, Doan (Dan) Bittner of Pleasant Hill, Soan Lovan of Oskaloosa, Sone (Sarah) Lovan, of Altoona, six grandchildren; Ethan & Emily Sabelka, Caleb & Samantha Bittner, Dylan & Mia Lovan, his sister Ae Quangthi of Pella, and many other loved relatives. An was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter in infancy, Boau Lothi, and five siblings. Funeral Services will be held for An on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 3:00 p.m., at Langkamp Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa. Visitation is prior to the funeral, and cremation will follow the service. The burial of An’s urn and a Celebration of his life will take place at a later date in the spring.

An Lovan

June 10, 1929 - January 22, 2025