YOUMANS, Lynn Ogden "Ole" 1912-2000

STEVENS, YOUMANS, HOLLAND, CUTLER, OLSON, BRYANT

Posted By: IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 9/1/2010 at 17:39:21

Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2000

Lynn Youmans

Lynn Youmans, 88, of Decorah, died Dec. 1, 2000 at his home of natural causes along with complications arising from a 1998 accident in which he suffered a broken hip and other injuries.

Visitation is on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2000, at 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Decorah.

Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at the church, with Rev. James Dale officiating. A social period in the church basement will follow the service.

Interment will take place at Greenwood Centennial Cemetery in rural Ossian. Fjelstul Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Lynn Ogden "Ole" Youmans was born at the farm home of his parents, Edwin F. "Ed" and Vila (Stevens) Youmans on June 26, 1912.

He grew up on the "Whippoorwill" farm two miles north of Decorah.

Edwin Youmans was a prosperous farmer and entrepreneur whose fortune was lost when the Winneshiek County State Bank went broke at the start of the Great Depression. This event remained in "Ole" Youmans' mind throughout his life, causing him to distrust banks, and to live with great frugality.

In his youth, "Ole" Youmans was very athletic and excelled especially in boxing and wrestling. He sometimes sought excitement by riding boxcars "on the bum" around the country, looking for work. He always came back to Decorah, and worked with his father to develop a business at the family property in the "South End". The business turned out to be "Ole's Swap Shop," which became famous throughout the Midwest for its vast array of eclectic antiques and collectibles.

Though "Ole" Youmans had been "retired" for about 20 years, he was usually available to anyone with something to buy, sell or trade.

"Ole" Youmans is survived by his sisters, Ardath Holland of Downers Grove, IL. and Edna Cutler of Kerby, Ore., and by brothers Arthur of Houston, Texas and Wesley of Mt. Pleasant.

He is also survived by three nieces and three nephews: Hazel Olson of Decorah; Virginia Zoubek of Minneapolis; Clifton of Helena, Mont.; Eric and Pamela of Houston, Texas and Chris of Salisbury, N.C. and 16 grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.

Lynn Ogden "Ole" Youmans was preceded in death by his parents and by siblings Bud, Sam, Tommie McPherson and Helen Bryant.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.