Budiharto Gunawan

A visitation in chapel will be held at Rose Hills Memorial Park - SkyRose Chapel, 3888 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, CA 90601, US, on August 22, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

Budiharto will be laid to rest at Rose Hills Memorial Park, 3888 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, in Creekside Heights Lawn, Gate 1, Row 5, Lot 7002, Space 3, with burial on August 25, 2026.

In Loving Memory of Budiharto Gunawan

Budiharto Gunawan, also known as Goeij Boen Hong, was born on June 8, 1941, in Samarinda, Indonesia, to Goeij Tjin Hiang and Thio Tjhun Lie. He was a devoted husband, a loving father, a cherished grandfather, a brother, an uncle, and a dear friend.

He lived a life that was defined by hard work, determination, perseverance, generosity, and, above all, love for his family. For nearly his entire life, he was an entrepreneur in Sidoarjo, Indonesia. He worked diligently to build a good life and a bright future for the people he loved. He understood that taking care of your family meant showing up, working hard, and doing whatever you could to give them a better life.

But as much as he valued hard work, one of the qualities that truly defined Budiharto was his generous heart. He was always willing to help family members and relatives who were going through difficult times. Whenever someone needed financial help, encouragement, advice, or simply someone they could turn to, he would do his best to be there. And what made his generosity so special was that he gave quietly and without expecting anything in return. He didn't need recognition for the things he did. Helping others was simply part of who he was. His generosity wasn't limited to money. He gave people his guidance, care, encouragement, and time. He was someone they knew they could turn to when life became difficult. That is one of the greatest things a person can leave behind-not just what they accomplished, but the feeling that you were never alone because they were there for you.

Above all, though, Budiharto was a family man. Family was at the center of his life. He believed deeply in the importance of education, and he was incredibly proud to support his children as they pursued their studies in the United States after graduating from high school. His greatest joy came from watching his children and grandchildren grow. He loved seeing them build lives of their own, pursue their dreams, and create families of their own. To him, their happiness was something worth being proud of.

In 1997, Budiharto and his wife, Rachmadewi, moved to Rowland Heights, California, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. And that decision gave our family many more years of memories together. Those years were filled with family gatherings, conversations, meals, laughter, and all of the simple moments that we may not have realized were so precious at the time.

Budiharto also knew how to enjoy the simple pleasures in life. He loved traveling. He loved watching movies, eating out, and spending time with the people he loved. And, of course, he really loved his ice cream. That was one of his favorite treats. Some of our favorite memories of him are connected to these simple things-the meals, the trips, the conversations, and just being together.

He and Rachmadewi shared 66 years of marriage and many wonderful journeys together. They traveled to many countries around the world, and China was his favorite destination. He was fortunate to visit many times, and those travels created countless memories that he carried with him throughout his life.

A person's legacy isn't only measured by the things they leave behind. It is also measured by the people they touched. Budiharto leaves behind his wife of 66 years, Rachmadewi Wong, and his seven children:

-Kustari Gunawan and her husband (Hartono Lestari)

-Tranggono Gunawan and his wife (Dewi Chandra)

-Tono Gunawan and his wife (Yuniarti Chatarina)

-Lisiane Gunawan and her husband (Andrew Clayderman)

-Surjati Gunawan and her husband (Huang Chia Zheng)

-Ratna Gunawan and her husband (Herry Kusuma)

-Maria Oey Gunawan and her husband (Andreas Widjaja)

His 16 grandchildren are Crystal Lestari (her spouse John Virtudes), Edmund Lestari, Othman Ola, Edbert Reis, Audrey Olivia, Jacqueline Gunawan, Felecia Gunawan, Vincent Gunawan, Sallie Clayderman (her spouse Edwin Hadimuljono), Ivan Clayderman (his spouse Veronica Huang), Laura Clayderman, Kevin Clayderman, Edward Huang, Osgood Gunawan, Nathaniel Oey, and Sean Oey. His great-grandchildren are Rowland Tan, Rosallie Tan, and Daxton Clayderman.

He also leaves behind his siblings Antonius Lee Goeij, Goeij Po Sang, Willy Gosal, and Yohannes Gosal.

But more than the number of people he leaves behind, he leaves behind a legacy of love, generosity, perseverance, family, and devotion. And that legacy doesn't end with his passing. It lives on in the family he worked so hard to build. It lives on in the values he taught us. It lives on in the stories we will continue to tell. And it lives on every time one of us shows kindness to another person, helps someone who is struggling, works hard for our family, or takes the time to enjoy being together.

Although our hearts are heavy today, I think we can also be grateful. Grateful that we had the privilege of knowing him. Grateful for the many years we were blessed to have him in our lives. Grateful for his smile, his stories, his love of travel, his enjoyment of good food and ice cream, and most of all, his love for his family.

There will be moments when we miss him deeply. We will miss seeing him at family gatherings. We will miss hearing his stories. We will miss his presence at the table. And we will miss all the little things that made him who he was. We hope that we don't only think about the fact that he is no longer with us. We will remember how fortunate we were to have him in our lives. His journey on this earth may have come to an end, but the love he gave us will never end. His memory will live on in every family gathering, every story we share, every meal we enjoy together, every act of kindness inspired by his example, and in the hearts of everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

Thank you for everything you did for our family.

Thank you for your hard work, generosity, your guidance and your love.

And thank you for giving all of us a family and a lifetime of memories that we will carry with us.

Until we meet again, we will carry your love in our hearts. Rest peacefully; you were a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. You will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.