Gerald W. Young 1916-1935

YOUNG

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/3/2024 at 20:00:10

Gerald Wilber Young
(January 22, 1916 – March 8, 1935)

Obituary
Gerald Wilber Young was born Jan. 22, 1916, nine miles northwest of Rockwell City, Ia., and departed this life Friday, Mar. 8, 1935, at the United States naval basic hospital, San Diego, Cal., aged 19 years, 1 month and 14 days. When he was five years of age he moved with his parents to Rockwell City where he entered school. Two years later, the family moved to a farm two miles southeast of Rockwell City where they resided until 1930, when, he, with his mother, brother and sister moved to a farm seven miles southwest of Churdan, Ia. In August of 1934 he and his mother moved to Fort Dodge, Ia. Three years of his high school training were received at Churdan, and three months of his senior year was taken in the Fort Dodge high school at which time he enlisted in the navy. On Nov. 16, 1934, he entered the United States naval training station at San Diego, Cal. At the end of three months’ training, he came home on a 10 day furlough, returning for appointment to his ship on Feb. 22. Soon after arriving at his station he entered the basic hospital because of an ear ailment which was not thought to be serious. However, his condition became steadily worse, and his mother was summoned to his bedside by the commanding officer on Mar. 6. She left immediately by plane from Des Moines, but due to bad weather conditions, her plane was delayed and she arrived too late as he had passed away Friday morning at 10:18 a.m. He leaves to mourn his passing, his mother, Mrs. Blanche Young of Fort Dodge, Ia., his brother, Charles Young, Churdan, Ia., three sisters, Mrs. Lois Whiteside and Mrs. Nora Prince of Rockwell City, Ia., and Mrs. Aileen Zaruba of Omaha, Neb., and several uncles, aunts, cousins, and friend, Helen DeSart, of Glidden, besides a host of other friends. His father and one brother preceded him in death. In September 1932, he was converted and united with the First Baptist church of Churdan, Ia. He entered into his Christian life with the same joyful anticipation which characterized all other phases of his life. His eagerness for adventure and his happy, unassuming, uncomplaining disposition caused him to enrich the lives of all with whom he came in contact. All is well that seems most wrong if it be His sweet will. “He is gone, we do not understand, we only know that as he turned to go, in his eyes a sudden glory shown – he turned to wave his hand and he was gone.” Short services were conducted at the grave in the Rosehill cemetery at Rockwell City by the Rev. Roy C. Longfellow, pastor of the Churdan Baptist church. Mrs. Chris Jespersen or Rockwell City sang two songs, “We’ll Say Good-night Here, but Good-morning Up There,” and was assisted by Rev. Longfellow on the song, “Crossing the Bar.” The honorary pallbearers were from Churdan: Donald Reading, Noah Danley, Elton Dolph, Phillip Piecht, Clarence Bartles and Richard Morton. The pallbearers were from Rockwell City; Donald Mayhew, Harry Westcot, Lloyd Prince, Frank Whiteside, Henry Hayler and Marion Hoke. Source – Rockwell City Advocate and Calhoun County Republican, Rockwell City, Iowa, Thursday, March 21, 1935, p.4