Ihn Matsunaga

Ihn Kim Matsunaga, age 80, passed away in her home in Highlands Ranch, Colorado on December 9, 2021.  “Kim” was born on February 11, 1941 in Raijin City, North Korea to Dr. Ki Won Kim and Ok Soon Lee.  After the end of WWII, her family moved to Seoul, South Korea where she grew up.  Kim graduated from Sook Myung High School and Ewha University.  Kim came to the United States after graduating from Ewha University and began her career as a social worker.   Kim devoted her career and her life to “Kim’s Kids,” as she fondly called them.  Kim helped thousands of children from Korea, China, India and many other countries find their forever home and she is fondly remembered by so many as the angel who helped unite so many children with their loving families.  Kim worked tirelessly with Korean Heritage Camps to help so many children and their families learn about their backgrounds and took countless trips back to Korea for homeland tours.

Kim married Sus Matsunaga in 1974, and they had two children: Kimberly and Brian.  Kim was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend and loved spending time with her grandchildren:  Aaliyah Kane (24), Danielle Ammons (17) and Lily Matsunaga (10) and cooking food for everyone she knew and anyone who might come over to visit.

Kim is preceded in death by her husband (Sus Matsunaga), her sister Sun Kim and her parents.  Kim is survived by her daughter Kimberly Ammons (Aaron, Danielle) and son Brian Matsunaga (Sandra, Aaliyah and Lily) and her sisters: Ock Lee (VA), Shin Kim (IL), June Copple (CA), Yune S. Rhee (NY) and brother Sang Kyu Kim (NY).  Kim has 11 nieces and nephews who live throughout the United States and Korea.

Private memorial services will be held on January 13, 2022.  Kim will be honored at a Celebration of Life, where all are welcome to come share their memories.  The Celebration of Life will be held at Arrowhead Golf Club (10850 W. Sundown Trail, Littleton CO 80125) on Thursday, January 13, 2022 at 2:30 pm.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families – https://www.heritagecamps.org/donate.