Minh Phan

Minh Nguyen Phan, 32, of Ankeny, passed away unexpectedly on January 19, 2025, while attending a music festival in Thailand. Minh was born in Malaysia on February 10, 1992, to Ngoi Phan and Hong Nguyen. He was a beloved son, brother, and friend whose passions and kind-hearted nature touched the lives of all who knew him.

Minh graduated from East High School in Des Moines in 2010 and went on to earn his degree in Kinesiology and Health from Iowa State University in 2018. He was a dedicated PC enthusiast who loved building computers and had earned two certifications from ComTIA. He was also a gamer, always up for a challenge with friends, and had an unbeatable competitive spirit, especially when it came to Wii. Minh's love for technology was only matched by his love of food, he was truly a "foodie" at heart.

A lover of travel, Minh found joy in visiting friends and exploring new places. He had an infectious enthusiasm for music festivals, especially EDM, with a deep appreciation for artists like Skrillex and Avicii. Recently, Minh had embarked on a new adventure in DJing, pursuing his passion for music and expression. In his free time, he enjoyed working on cars, indulging his surprising love for books (especially the Harry Potter series), and unwinding with movies, whether at the theater or at home. He was also an avid collector of Pokemon Cards, with Blastoise being his favorite.

Minh's selflessness and generosity defined him. He was the type of person who always put others' needs before his own, and his friends and family knew they could count on him for anything. His compassion and loyalty left a lasting impact on everyone he encountered.

Minh is survived by his parents, Ngoi and Hong Nguyen Phan; siblings, Julie (Jason Dinh) Ngo, Truc Ngo (Loan Tran), Leann Ngo (Hoang Tran), and Jenifer Phan; and 7 nieces and nephews. 

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, January 31, 2025 at St. Theresa Catholic Church (1230 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, IA 50311). A Mass of Catholic Burial will take place at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, February 1, 2025 at St. Peter's Catholic Church (612 East 18th Street, Des Moines, IA 50316). Burial will follow at Glendale Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.caldwellparrish.com. The family asks that no monetary donations be made.