Kequn Li

Kequn Li

Athens - Kequn Li, 103, of Athens, died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at Kimes Convalescent Center in Athens.

Born in Huaide, Jilin, China, he was the son of the late Songlin Li and Wenzhen Guo. Due to the Japanese occupation of his home province during World War II, Kequn fled south with his school as a boy. After stints in multiple cities, he met his future wife, Boyi Ho, when he was a college student in Kunming. They liked to go swimming in the local river together and married in 1952. Kequn worked for several decades as a mathematics professor at Tsinghua University in Bejing, China, with a special interest in topology.

After retirement, he immigrated to the US to live with his wife and his daughter Yunsheng’s family in Athens, Ohio, beginning in 1992. A lifelong scholar, he taught several of his grandchildren arithmetic and algebra and took English language classes. He enjoyed walking, whistling, listening to violin concertos, and eating flavorful Chinese cuisine. He maintained excellent health for such a long time with the support of his daughter and was still able to walk in his last year of life.

He is survived by three children, Yunsheng Li (Xiaozhuo Chen), Chin Li (Yanhui Liu), Jian Li (Lijun Liu); four grandchildren, Athena Chen (Travis Rice-Stitt), Sophia Chen (Rebekah Cross), Michael and Stephanie; two great grandchildren, Milo and Esme, and two sisters, Kerong Li and Yanru Li.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife and one brother, Kedun Li.

Visitation will be from 11:00 AM till 1:00 PM on Friday, October 25, 2024 at Hughes Funeral Home in Athens, Ohio. Graveside services will be held at 11:00AM on Monday October 27, 2024 at Green Cemetery in Carlisle, Massachusetts. Visitation will be from 9:30 till 10:30AM at Concord Funeral Home in Concord, Massachusetts.