Kuei-mei Ammann's Obituary
Kuei-Mei Ammann’s Life Story
Hung Kuei-Mei was born on October 15, 1952, in Ping Tung, Taiwan. Her father was Hung Hsui-Shin; we don’t know her mother’s name or her stepmother’s name. She is the second of four children, the oldest is her sister Carol Cohane (Kuei-Hua) living in Ft. Myers, Florida. Her brother, Hung Ming-Teh (deceased), was the third child, and the fourth was an unknown youngest daughter.
Kuei-Mei lived in a small house in Ping Tung surrounded by rice fields next to a small river. She took care of the chickens and ducks and was the family cook.
Her sister Carol was a maid, earning money for the family. Kuei-Mei learned English from her. Unfortunately, Kuei-Mei had no formal education, only her brother went to school.
In July 1974, she met Dennis Ammann her future husband who was a Navy yeoman stationed at Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Her best friend Becky introduced them, and it was love at first sight. They were married on September 6, 1975, at Tainan, Taiwan. Soon Dennis was transferred north to Taipei in January 1976.
In September 1976, they moved to Chula Vista, California where Dennis was assigned to the USS Juneau (LPD-10) and deployed in March 1977 to the Western Pacific for 8 months, leaving Kuei-Mei behind to adapt to living in America.
Dennis was eligible for shore duty in January 1978, and they moved to National City. During the spring of 1980, they joined the Chinese Community Church where Kuei-Mei was Baptized by Dr. Karl Fung. Vincent was born at the Balboa Naval Hospital on May 15, 1981.
In February 1982, Dennis was transferred to the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), which was located at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Again Kuei-Mei was left behind with Vincent for one year, but this time he was allowed to travel back to San Diego for visits on Naval cargo planes. In January 1983, Dennis was in and out of port and deployed to the Western Pacific/Indian Ocean in January 1984, returning in August. By now, Kuei-Mei was a seasoned ‘Navy wife/mother.’
In March 1985, the family moved to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and loved it very much. This was probably the highlight of Kuei-Mei’s life! She lived in a Navy ‘townhouse’ type home where she could grow many plants like in Taiwan.
After three years in Hawaii, Dennis was transferred to the USS Ranger (CV-61) in May 1988, where they settled down in Clairemont, a suburb of San Diego, California. Again, Dennis deployed for the last time aboard USS Ranger from February to August 1989, finally retiring from the Navy in August 1990.
Dennis’ new civilian career was accounting clerk at the Tom Hom Group. No more deployments for the family! Vincent was in the sixth grade by then and his mother and father both watched him grow into a young man, who obtained a college degree and is now a business jet pilot.
Kuei-Mei joined the San Diego Orchid Society for many years, until her medical concerns started to develop. She loved visiting the Carlsbad Flower Fields, Balboa Park Arboretum, Zoo, and Sea World.
Shopping at Michael’s was her favorite store to purchase crocheting materials and arts/crafts. She was an excellent cook, so the 99 Ranch Market was her favorite grocery store.
After many years of heart problems, failing legs, and other illnesses, Kuei-Mei passed away in her sleep the morning of October 11, 2025. She is survived by her husband, Dennis Ammann and son Vincent; sister Carol Cohane, brother-in-law Greg Cohane, and niece Kimberly Cohane; sisters-in-law: Gretchen Guajardo, Gayle Wade, and Annette and brother-in-law Curtis Brown.
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