Major William James Young 6/1/1935-1/15/2025
William (Bill) Young passed away peacefully on January 15, 2025 surrounded by his family who loved him dearly.
He was born on June 1, 1935, to Louisa (Snedden) and Kermit Young in Grainger, lowa. He grew up in lowa and graduated from Des Moines Technical High School, where he studied aircraft mechanics.
Bill joined the Army in 1954 and enjoyed a career that spanned 20 years. In 1958 he went to Officer Candidate School and eventually achieved the rank of Major. He served in Korea and did two tours in Viet Nam and one in Germany. He was passionate and vocal about his service, and his family used to tease him that he bled Army green! He served as a Battery Commander three times and was loved and respected by the men who served under him.
He married Luanne Prielipp from Tomah, Wisconsin on April 27, 1957. Love at first sight turned into a loving, supportive marriage that lasted over 67 years. They were truly soul mates. They had two daughters, Cindy and Patti, and one son, Bill. He often said that next to his faith, family was the most important thing, and he lived it out in the way he loved and cared for all the members of his family. He was always willing to drop whatever he was doing to help one of them and his prayers and words of encouragement will be sorely missed.
Bill accepted Jesus as his Savior in 1958. His relationship with the Lord grew sweeter as the years passed, and he often expressed his gratitude for God’s grace in his life. He served faithfully in the church as a deacon, trustee, AWANA leader and a Sunday School bus driver. He was eager to see his Savior face to face and was ready when he left this life.
Airplanes and flying were a lifetime passion of his, and he enjoyed building and flying both real and model aircraft. He was very mechanically inclined and could build or fix anything.
Bill is survived by his wife, Luanne; his brother, Greg Young (Debbie), his daughter, Cindy Cain (David; his son, Bill Young (Audrey); his daughter, Patricia Spiser (Mike); his eight grandchildren Shelly Anderson (Grant), Brian Cain (Jezel), Stacy Burling (Shane), Susan Bain (Mitch), Michael Cain (Gwenn), Steven Cain (Haley), Geoffrey Waterman (Shawna), and Dan Waterman; three step grandsons Kolby Puhlmann, Mitch Spiser and Sean Spiser (Keely); as well as fourteen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Bob Young and a great-grandson, Gavin Anderson.
Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory in Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.
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