Sau Nguyen, 65, of Dubuque, died on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 10:50 p.m. at Mayo Clinic – St. Mary’s Campus in Rochester, Minnesota.

An hour of prayer will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Crematory, followed by visitation until 3:00 p.m.

The Funeral Service for Sau will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Crematory.

An additional hour of prayer will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 7, 2026, at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Crematory. Cremation will follow at 10:30 a.m.

Sau was born March 7, 1961, in Huế, Vietnam, the son of Khoi Ich and Chau Thi (Le) Nguyen. On September 26, 1995, he married Tuyen Kim Tran in Atlanta, Georgia.

Sau built a life centered around his family, hard work, and the people around him. He was the owner and operator of #1 Nail in Dubuque, which he and his wife opened together in 1999. For more than 25 years, the salon became more than a business. It was a place where Sau formed friendships, shared stories and laughter, and came to know generations of customers. He genuinely loved people and could strike up a conversation with almost anyone.

Outside of work, Sau was happiest when he had something to do with his hands. He loved fishing, gardening, caring for his yard, and finding something around the house that needed to be fixed, changed, or improved. He took great pride in the things he cared for, especially his plants, orchids, his home, and family.

Sau also knew how to enjoy the simple things in life. He loved a good seafood meal, singing karaoke, taking long drives along back roads, and sitting down for conversations that could stretch on and on. He was curious, social, funny, and unmistakably himself. His infectious laugh could fill a room, and his warmth made people feel comfortable around him. If you called, he would make sure to show up.

Above everything else, Sau loved his family. The life he built, the work he put into it, and the countless ordinary moments he shared with the people he loved are the legacy he leaves behind. There will never be another person quite like him. His family will remember his voice, his booming laughter, his stories, his determination, the things he taught them, and the unmistakable presence he brought wherever he went.

Sau was truly one of a kind, and his absence will be felt deeply by his family, friends, customers, and everyone fortunate enough to have known him.

Survivors include his wife, Tuyen Kim Tran; two daughters, Jennifer “Jayce” Nguyen and Julianne Nguyen; six siblings, Mot Thi Nguyen, Thanh Nguyen, Hong Nguyen, Thuan Nguyen, Sau Anh Nguyen, and Phu Nguyen; his beloved cat, Daisy; and two dogs, Clover and Flower.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Vang Nguyen.

A photo tribute can be viewed and condolences sent to the family by visiting Sau’s obituary at www.hskfhcares.com.