Ji Duk (J.D.) Zyung passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, at 7:03 AM on Friday, May 23 2025, at the home of his youngest son and daughter-in-law.

J.D was born on February 10th, 1935, in Seoul, South Korea, the 9th child of Sung Hoon Zyung and Un Yun Kim (Zyung). In the late 1950s, due to the repercussions and limited opportunities associated with the Korean War, he applied and secured a student visa in the United States.  He arrived in the U.S. in 1959 upon completing a 3-week journey across the Pacific Ocean on a small cargo ship.  He was the first of his family to migrate to the U.S.

After initial struggles with learning English and procuring employment, he was eventually accepted as a student at the Alton, IL campus of Southern Illinois University. There he met his first wife, Betty Jo Turner and received an undergraduate degree in Mathematics.

Upon passage of The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, J.D. applied for and received his U.S. citizenship.  He was hired as a Radiology assistant at Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton, IL, where he married Betty and eventually welcomed two sons, Geoff and Eric.

J.D. went on to pursue a career in Information Technology, beginning as an operator at Ralston Purina in St. Louis, MO. He eventually developed skills to become a COBOL/CICS programmer at Purina,  where he continued to work for several more years. He eventually accepted a position at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, MO, while also working as a part-time adjunct professor at Lewis & Clark Community College in Godfrey, IL, teaching COBOL.

During this time, he sponsored other family members from Korea, the first being brother Ji Sun Zyung and wife Jung Ja, who would go on to receive their U.S. citizenship. Over time the Zyung family grew into a sizable clan maintaining strong relationships through frequent family reunions.  Additionally, he also opened a small clothing store called JD's 4 Seasons in the early 1980s, which he operated for several years with the original location being in Florissant, MO, and a subsequent location in Berkley, MO.

After his divorce from Betty, he met and married Paula Howard Jackson and continued his career in IT working as a contractor and consultant for various IT firms throughout the southern U.S. Eventually, he and Paula made Jacksonville, FL, their permanent home. J.D. retired from his IT career at age 70 and remained in Jacksonville until recently, when he returned to Illinois to reside with his son Eric and his wife Kelly.

Preceding his death are his parents, 7 siblings, his first wife Betty, his second wife Paula, and step-daughter Chastity Jackson.

Surviving are his two sons Geoffrey (Rayanna) Zyung and Eric (Kelly) Zyung , as well as his brother Ji Sun (Jung Ja), seven grandchildren, Aaron, Ryan, Nathan, Cameron, Kylee, Madysen, and Brayden and three great-grandchildren Daisy, Malachi and Laney.

J.D.'s wishes were for cremation with his ashes being placed in the mausoleum alongside his second wife at Evergreen Cemetery in Jacksonville, FL. No memorial service or contributions are being requested. However, a celebration of life service will be held at a future date upon notice.