"I will miss seeing Bob at the library, always had a smile, or if there wasn't any new western, giving me a bad time! Donna Mason "
In loving memory of
Robert William Young
May 24, 1929 - May 29, 2018
Funeral Mass for Bob will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Emmetsburg. Burial is in St. John's Catholic Cemetery, Emmetsburg with Military Rites by V.F.W. Post #2295. The family will greet friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Monday at the funeral home where there will be a parish vigil service at 7:00 p.m.
Robert William "Bob" Young, son of Herbert Kent Young and Francis Ferguson, was born May 24, 1929 in Laurens, IA. He entered school in 1935 in Laurens, a short time in Kamrar, Iowa and then started high school in Pocahontas, IA, graduating in 1946.
He entered the Army in 1946. He was a proud member of the occupation forces in Japan, Company E 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. His time was highlighted serving as an MP (Military Police) for the Regiment, working as guard and escort for Gen. Douglas McArthur, Supreme Allied Commander for the Allied Powers. In addition to this, he worked as guard for the Emperor of Japan in his palace. He was honorably discharged in 1948.
After discharge from the service, Bob attended school at Iowa State University and was hired by Pocahontas County as an Engineering Assistant. In 1960, he was hired as the Assistant County Engineer in Palo Alto County where he worked for the next 31 years, retiring in May 1991.
On August 9, 1958, Bob was united in marriage to Mary Ann Ries in Pocahontas, Iowa at the Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church. To this union, six children were born.
Bob was a member of Holy Family Catholic Parish in Emmetsburg. He was a devoted and life-time member of the VFW Post #2295 in Emmetsburg where he held numerous offices. He was an avid Fisherman and loved bowling, where he won numerous awards and trophies.
In his retirement, he remained an enthusiastic card player and regularly played bridge, pinochle, euchre or poker and was always ready to sit down with the kids or grandkids for a game of cards. The grandchildren always wanted Grandpa on their team. Each day he would hit the local coffee circuit with his friends around the town. Not a day went by that any problem in the world couldn't be solved by his coffee forum.
Bob passed away on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 peacefully at home at the age of 89. He was preceded in death by his parents, his only sister, Janette Meyer and his infant son, Thomas.
Bob is survived by his wife and companion for over 60 years, Mary Ann Young of Emmetsburg; children: Ann Marie (Tom) Young-Erwin of League City, TX, William Michael (Kari Askeland) Young of Minneapolis, MN, Ellen Frances of Houston, TX, James Andrew (Sherri) of North Pole, AK and Susan Kathleen Young of Katy, TX; nine grandchildren: Nicholas Erwin, Arielle Askeland, Leif Young, Cody Young, and Andrew, Katie, Emma and Matthew Young and Briar Lavinder.