Support Jerry's Family Through Their Loss

On Sunday, June 23rd, a family tragically lost their 6-year-old son in a car accident. Just like every Sunday, the family started the day by attending Church service and were on their way to spend the rest of their afternoon at the park for some quality family time where, unfortunately, the tragedy occurred.

His name was Jerry Sui Lian Thang. He was full of an energy and love that will never be forgotten by those who were privileged to have him in their lives. He leaves behind four siblings, the youngest being three months old, and two loving parents.

Jerry's parents, Thang Thang and Van Iang, and his older siblings settled in Iowa from Burma in 2016 as refugees. Jerry, his twin Geoffrey, and his younger brother Henry were born and raised in Clive, IA. Jerry’s family are members of the Chin community in Iowa. Like many refugees and immigrants, Jerry’s parents came to America for a better life for their kids. Resettlement can be both challenging and frightening for families, as they find themselves in a totally unfamiliar country doing their best to find stability when everything around them is new - forcing them to work hard as they assimilate. Jerry’s mom stays home to take care of the five boys due to the exorbitant cost of childcare. Jerry’s dad is the sole breadwinner for the family. He had been working two jobs until March 2024, when their youngest son, Henry, was born. At this time, Jerry’s father decided to drop to just one job so that he could spend more time with his wife and young children - watching them grow and experience life. Sadly, now, this dream can never be whole again. Jerry’s father will not be able to return to work right away. He needs time to grieve and be with his family while they mourn the loss of Jerry. Any donations made during this time will help Jerry’s parents and siblings be financially supported in the upcoming months.

EMBARC is accepting donations and managing the GoFundMe on behalf of Jerry's family to support funeral costs, essential bills, and other expenses, including seeking counseling for Jerry's siblings and parents who witnessed the accident that took their brother and son from them.

As a non-profit community-based organization dedicated to supporting the refugee community from Burma, EMBARC will handle the collection of funds for the family and will facilitate payment for mortgage, auto/car loan, and other services. The family will determine their priorities for how donations are used based on needs - starting with funeral costs - while the father is without income.

Please join us in surrounding this family with love, prayer, and support during this difficult time. The family is appreciative beyond words for those who donate or share this GoFundMe.

This is an incredibly difficult process for the family, and they will need all of our support as they navigate this tragedy. May Jerry rest in peace.