Roy L Lin

Roy was born on November 16, 1954, in Busan, South Korea. He married his beloved wife Cindy in 1978, and together they immigrated to the United States in 1980 in pursuit of a better life and greater opportunities. They chose to settle in Iowa, where they raised their three daughters, Mary, Jennifer, and Jessica.

For more than 46 years, he devoted himself to the culinary profession. As a chef, he took pride in preparing meals that brought comfort, nourishment, and joy to others. Whether serving customers, friends, or family, he believed food was one of the most meaningful ways to show love and care. Roy embodied hard work and dedication, working tirelessly to provide for his family, making countless sacrifices, and always putting the needs of others before his own.

Roy enjoyed working with his hands and had a natural talent for fixing and building things. Family and friends knew that if something broke, Roy would find a way to repair it. He loved tinkering with projects and was always eager to learn new skills, often teaching himself by watching videos. His curiosity, resourcefulness, and determination enabled him to tackle almost any challenge. When he found a rare moment to slow down, Roy enjoyed fishing, singing, and spending time with his family. He had an uncanny ability to strike up a conversation with anyone, quickly turning strangers into friends. His warmth, humility, quiet generosity, and genuine interest in others made everyone feel welcome and left a lasting impression on all who knew him.

Roy is survived by his loving wife Cindy; his daughters, Mary (Chris) Williamson, Jennifer Lin, and Jessica (Justin) Lin Le; his cherished grandchildren, Olivia, Sophia, and Lexi Williamson; his brothers, Leh Fu Lin and Frank Lin; and many extended family members and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Zhifa Lin.

Roy's legacy is one of hard work, kindness, generosity, and unwavering love for his family. He will be deeply missed, but his memory will live on in every shared meal, every family gathering, and and in the countless lives he touched with his generosity, friendship, and food.

Roy's family invites all who knew and loved him to celebrate his life on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Valley Southwoods Freshman High School.