Geon Ko was born in Seoul, Korea on March 15, 1992. He was a quiet and inquisitive child, who never fussed or cried, but immediately brought much joy to his family and all he met.

He emigrated to the US in 2000 with his sister and parents, settling in Northern New Jersey, attending and graduating from Becton Regional High School. He displayed at aptitude for music and art from a young age and continued to excel throughout his years. He was also dedicated to his church, where he participated in youth groups and later came to lead worship and bible studies. 

Sadly, his promising future became derailed a week after his 22nd birthday in March 2014, when he was suddenly diagnosed with both acute myeloid leukemia and a germ cell tumor in his chest. It was a life-changing and life-threatening event for him, but he stayed strong throughout the ordeal and the never-ending hospital stays. He worried too much about how his illness affected the people around him instead of himself - a testament to his selfless character.

A few months after the initial diagnosis, a bone marrow transplant - after matching with his sister Jun - seemed to bring the leukemia under control. He slowly resumed his life and was able to regain some sense of normalcy. He focused on his art, working at a studio daily to hone his craft, and was excited to pursue the dreams that had been put on hold.

He was an exceptional artist, guitarist, and pianist. He had recently been accepted at the prestigious Cooper Union School of Art, where he hoped to resume his studies in the coming months.

Unfortunately, the tumor in his chest had grown and become a life-threat, and as a result he underwent surgery for tumor removal in May 2016. It was a difficult procedure and one that never fully resolved itself; complications followed, further weakening his body - if not his spirit - and additional procedures in the weeks that followed were unable to bring back the healthy and vibrant Geon we all remembered.

After over two years of fighting, Geon passed on Saturday, October 1st at 4:16 PM. He was much too young and robbed of a life that would have been spent bringing joy and love to this world.

He is remembered, loved and celebrated by his family, friends and church. The family graciously asks for donations for Geon's funeral expenses and sincerely thank each and every one of you for your love and support.