John Alan YOUNG

YOUNG, OLSON, LARSON, SMITH, WALTON, CHRISTANSON, DEBONT, SEIFERTH, WHALEY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/12/2016 at 19:31:44

May 21, 1951 ---- June 9, 2016

John Alan Young passed away in Mesa, Arizona on June 9, 2016 at the age of 65. He was born May 21, 1951 in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He grew up in Clarion, Iowa. A memorial service will be held at the Heartland Museum in Clarion on August 18, 2016 at 2 pm. Fellowship and refreshments will follow the service.

John was born to Dr. Richard A. Young and Betty Lou (Olson) Young. He was raised in the home that his father built. He graduated from Clarion High School in 1969. His fondness and devotion to his classmates lasted his whole life. He kept his classmates connected with newsletters and organizing class reunions. John was a talented musician. He played the saxophone in band and had leading roles in the high school musicals Brigadoon and Oklahoma. He was also chosen to be a part of the Iowa All State choir. After high school graduation, John attended Iowa State University, graduating in 1973 with a pre-med degree. He then attended Stout University in Wisconsin and graduated in 1975 with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. He managed country club restaurants in Wisconsin and held various other jobs over the years. John’s greatest passion through his adult life was woodworking and antique restoration. Woodworking was an art form for John, which he learned from his father and enjoyed passing on to his sons. He worked on several projects around Clarion including the building of the gazebo, restoring the Rock Island Depot and working on the Heartland Museum.

John loved cooking for his family and friends and prepared wonderful holiday meals. He enjoyed nature and was an amateur astronomer. He was a proud Papa John, who loved sharing funny videos, cheering at sporting events/dance recitals, and giving his step-grandchildren big warm hugs.

John was proud of his Norwegian heritage and visited his homeland twice. He also helped organize reunions with his Norwegian relatives. His gregarious warm personality and goofy sense of humor will be missed by all who knew him.

John was preceded in death by his parents Dr. Richard A. Young and Betty Lou (Olson) Young, mother-in-law Lorraine Betty Larson and his beloved dogs Ginger and Gandalf. His survivors include wife Janice Larson Young of Mesa, Arizona; sisters Sally Smith (niece Heather) of Utica, Minnesota; Kathy (Robert) Walton (niece Jennifer and nephew John) of Englewood, Colorado; Aunt Darcia Christanson of Eagle Grove, Iowa; former wife Dianne Young, son Ian (Alla) Young, grandchildren Emma and William and son Sean Young of Minnesota. Additional survivors include step-son Jay DeBont, step-grandchildren Vincent, Ulysses, Donovan, and Waylon of Eugene, Oregon; step-daughter Katherine (Andrew) Seiferth, step-grandchildren Lucianna and Stone of Chandler, Arizona and step-son Jonathan Whaley, step-grandchild Xavier of Mesa, Arizona.

Wright County Monitor --- Clarion, Iowa
August 11, 2016