Iu Mien from throughout the West Coast are expected to come to Sacramento this weekend for the traditional funeral of one of the giants of northern California's Mien community, Jimmy Phanh.

Phanh, 48, died June 10 of an enlarged heart. He was a leader in Sacramento's 12,000-member Iu Mien community, the nation's largest.

The son of a village leader and Taoist priest in Saybouri, Laos, Phanh devoted his life to helping hundreds of refugees learn English, finish school, find jobs and cope with the generational and cultural problems that often trip up newcomers.

As Laotian refugees struggled with gangs, post traumatic stress and poverty, Phanh was there to serve as a bridge to law enforcement, schools, and public officials.

"Many Mien community members know him as the host of a weekly Iu-Mien Radio program funded by the Sacramento City Unified School District," said his friend, Dr. Chiem-Seng Yaangh.

Phanh was instrumental in founding the United Iu Mien Community Inc. to advocate for his people, and the annual Iu-Mien Student Conference, which has guided dozens of young Mien Americans to college.

"In Laos, your tool is your hands - here, it's the brain," Phanh told The Bee in 2000. "It's hard for young people to think that way."

As he saw more Mien students go off to the University of California, Davis, Berkeley and California State University, Sacramento, "he was very proud of the fact they are no longer shy about who they are and claim to be Mien with pride," Yaangh said.

Phanh was anguished over the Ya Ba drug problem and gambling addiction that has recently devastated Mien families, "but he never gave up and always wanted to find solutions," Yaangh said.

Born on the 15th day of the second month of the Lunar calendar in 1961, Phanh's own life has been a struggle. His father sent him from the village at age eight to to the city for school, where he had to fend for himself for several years.

As the oldest son, he had to care for seven siblings and his parents' generation as well as his own family, Yaangh said. "He was able to get his GED but he tried college several times - last time was about a year ago, and he asked me if it's possible for him to get a college education. I said yes but everything else kept getting in the way - his commitment to family and community."

Phanh insisted that Yaangh - who became the first Mien here to get a Ph.D. - finish, no matter what obstacles.

He helped his family escape to Thailand in 1979 when the Lao Communists were rounding up village leaders.

"He was in high demand in Ban Vinai, the refugee camp, where he translated for many refugees and stayed up night after night with the sick who looked to him for comfort," Yaangh said.

Phanh continued his public service here as a job developer for Sacramento Lao Family Community Inc. for 20 years. In the months before his death, Phanh - whose family has a strawberry farm - went from farm to farm educating Mien growers how to grow fruit without dangerous pesticides, Yaangh said. "His positive spirit, humorous nature, and commitment to the Iu-Mien community will be sweetly remembered and greatly missed."

Phanh is survived by his wife Sandy Teurn , three daughters and two sons.

At 1 a.m. Saturday the traditional Taoist Ceremony begins at his home. The viewing is at East Lawn Mortuary, 3939 Fruitridge Road from 1:00 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. His memorial will take place Monday at 9 a.m. at East Lawn followed by burial at Camellia Memorial Cemetery, 10221 Jackson Rd., Sacramento, CA 95827.

A memorial fund has been set up at Bank of America, account #09051-73200, or checks can be sent to United Iu Mien Community Inc., 6000 Lemon Hill Avenue, Sacramento 95824.