Jesse Young

Jesse Young
Jesse Young

Jesse Young, age 97, of Waukon died Tuesday night, May 10, 2016 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Friday, May 20, 2016 at the Scheie Lutheran Church, Mabel, MN, with Pastor Mary Waudby officiating. Music will be provided by Kathryn Thompson and Linda Gjerdrum. Burial will be at the Locust Cemetery. Visitation will be two hours prior to services at the church.

Jesse Willet Alfred Young was born August 29, 1918 on his parents' farm in rural Hesper Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa. He was the son of Alfred and Emma (Grindeland) Young. Jesse was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Locust, and attended the rural schools.

February 14, 1942 he married LaVonne Safford at the Lutheran Parsonage in Cresco. Together they raised their four children, Robert, Emma, Phillip and Willet, on the family farm.

Jesse farmed until 1977, where he raised hogs, beef cattle, chickens, milk cows and a huge garden having everything one would need to be self supportive. After farming, Jesse did local livestock and grain trucking until he retired in 1993. In 2001, Jesse and LaVonne moved from the farm to Waukon.

Jesse enjoyed the simple things in life, especially the delicious pies and cookies that LaVonne made for him. Jesse was known for his hard work habits and willingness to help others in their time of need.

Jesse is survived by his wife of 74 years, LaVonne; his daughter-in-law, Sandy (Vern Gavle), (previously married to Robert) of Decorah; his daughter, Emma Thompson (Bud Gavle), (previously married to Frederick) of Decorah; his sons, Phillip (Sheryl) of Waukon and Willet (Rhonda) of Decorah; 12 grandchildren: Bobbie Kay (Jeff Brink) of Waukon, Ronald Young of Ossian, Nancy (Aaron) Gipp of Decorah, Kathryn Thompson of Dorchester, Maynard (Rhonda) Thompson of Cresco, Brandon (Erika) Young of Denver, CO, Blair Young of Los Angeles, CA, Brea Young of Tampa, FL, and Shannon Young (Daniel Fullhart), Jordan (Hannah) Young, Justin Young and Ryan Young (Lexy Lloyd), all of Decorah; 16 great-grandchildren: Robert and Jesse Anderson, Joseph, Victoria and Cassidy Young, Isabella Gipp, Justin and Michael Bigler, Bryer, Trystin, Brayden and Brenden Thompson, Alexus and Jayda Romero, and Colton and Kinley Young.

Jesse was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Emma; his sister, Evelyn (Walter Quandahl); his son, Robert Young; his son-in-law, Frederick Thompson; his brother-in-law, Charles Safford, and his wife, Imogene; his niece, Carmelita (Allen) Deters; his grandson, Frederick Thompson, Jr.; and his great grandson, Thomas Young.

Honorary pallbearer was Philip Richert. Mengis Funeral Home of Mabel, MN is handling arrangements.