Joseph Cheng Kuo died on October 29, 2005. He was 84. Mr. Kuo was born February 2, 1921 in Beijing, China. He graduated from China University in Beijing.
Mr. Kuo retired from the University of Kansas in 1992 where he was an Associate Professor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Literature. Prior to the University of Kansas, he was on the faculty of Yale University, Washington University, the University of Texas and Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois. Professor Kuo co-authored the "Speak Mandarin" series, compiled the "Radio Broadcasts of China" series and contributed to the "Dictionary of Spoken Chinese".
He married Mary H.Y. Kuo on September 17, 1948 in Shanghai, China. She preceded him in death in 1998. Survivors include one daughter, Rose Kuo of Los Angeles, CA; three sons, John Kuo of Chicago, IL, Simon Kuo of Overland Park, KS, David Kuo of Salt Lake City, UT; a sister Guo Yanjin of Jinan, China and three grandchildren.