Russell Owen Young, Sr., 96, of Litchfield, formerly of Tower Hill, passed away Friday, August 28, 2020 at St John’s Hospital, Springfield. He was born March 2, 1924 in Hillsboro, son of the late Harold Dwight Young, Sr. & Ruth Elizabeth (Green) Young.
Russell graduated from Hillsboro High School, Class of 1943. He served 2 years in the Navy during WWII and served 2 more years in the Army during the Korean War. Russell served for over 60 years at Tower Hill Christian Church in leadership as Elder, Deacon, Sunday School Teacher and in the Praise Band. He also served in the Tower Hill Lions Club for 40 years, served on the Village board for several years and Tower Hill School board. He also served as president of the Tower Hill Senior Citizens.
Russell worked as a carpenter prior to moving to Tower Hill, when he started working at Caterpillar in Decatur 1956. He retired at the age of 62 after 30 years. Russell and Ida started working as site supervisors for Inner City Mission in Springfield, IL, a Christian mission to help the homeless to find lasting stability. Later he partnered with his good friend and returned to carpentry.
Everyone that knows Russell will associate him with a passion for playing the harmonica! Russell played the harmonica all his life in bluegrass festivals, praise band, talent shows, at the senior citizens building, family get togethers and wherever there was music. He used his talent for the Lord for the last two decades by putting together a band to play music at Pana nursing homes and Litchfield nursing homes every week until his 96th birthday.
Russell was very involved with political action. He studied and corresponded and supported many conservative groups at the state and national level, evident by the stacks of mail he received daily.
Russell married Ida M. Nelson on August 3, 1946 in St. Paul, MN and she preceded him on September 1, 1992. He married Mary Alice Widner on March 31, 2001 in Tower Hill, IL and she survives in Litchfield.
Russell is also survived by his children: Russell “Butch” (Ruth) Young, Pana; Sharlene “Sherry” (Les) Lindsay, Tower Hill; Kevin (Connie) Young, Forsyth; Kayla Olinger (James Riley), Pana; Wanda Widner (Kenny Tapscott), Pleasant Plains; 13 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; 10 great-great grandchildren; and siblings: Harold Young, Robert “Bob” Young, Gerald “Jerry” Young, David Young, Betty Roper, Alice Deright, Judy Volk, Beverly Smith. In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by his grandson, Casey Olinger; great grandson, Devin Young; and siblings: James Young, Rosaleen Moseley & Burnetta “Nippy” Mohl.
A graveside service for Russell will be held on Sunday, September 6, 2020 in Tower Hill Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Derrick Ritchie officiating and military rites by Pana Veterans Honor Guard.
Memorials in Russell’s honor may be made to Tower Hill Christian Church and Inner City Mission, Springfield IL and will be accepted by McCracken-Dean Funeral Home who is assisting the family.
McCracken-Dean Funeral Home online obituary.
Russell graduated from Hillsboro High School, Class of 1943. He served 2 years in the Navy during WWII and served 2 more years in the Army during the Korean War. Russell served for over 60 years at Tower Hill Christian Church in leadership as Elder, Deacon, Sunday School Teacher and in the Praise Band. He also served in the Tower Hill Lions Club for 40 years, served on the Village board for several years and Tower Hill School board. He also served as president of the Tower Hill Senior Citizens.
Russell worked as a carpenter prior to moving to Tower Hill, when he started working at Caterpillar in Decatur 1956. He retired at the age of 62 after 30 years. Russell and Ida started working as site supervisors for Inner City Mission in Springfield, IL, a Christian mission to help the homeless to find lasting stability. Later he partnered with his good friend and returned to carpentry.
Everyone that knows Russell will associate him with a passion for playing the harmonica! Russell played the harmonica all his life in bluegrass festivals, praise band, talent shows, at the senior citizens building, family get togethers and wherever there was music. He used his talent for the Lord for the last two decades by putting together a band to play music at Pana nursing homes and Litchfield nursing homes every week until his 96th birthday.
Russell was very involved with political action. He studied and corresponded and supported many conservative groups at the state and national level, evident by the stacks of mail he received daily.
Russell married Ida M. Nelson on August 3, 1946 in St. Paul, MN and she preceded him on September 1, 1992. He married Mary Alice Widner on March 31, 2001 in Tower Hill, IL and she survives in Litchfield.
Russell is also survived by his children: Russell “Butch” (Ruth) Young, Pana; Sharlene “Sherry” (Les) Lindsay, Tower Hill; Kevin (Connie) Young, Forsyth; Kayla Olinger (James Riley), Pana; Wanda Widner (Kenny Tapscott), Pleasant Plains; 13 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; 10 great-great grandchildren; and siblings: Harold Young, Robert “Bob” Young, Gerald “Jerry” Young, David Young, Betty Roper, Alice Deright, Judy Volk, Beverly Smith. In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by his grandson, Casey Olinger; great grandson, Devin Young; and siblings: James Young, Rosaleen Moseley & Burnetta “Nippy” Mohl.
A graveside service for Russell will be held on Sunday, September 6, 2020 in Tower Hill Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Derrick Ritchie officiating and military rites by Pana Veterans Honor Guard.
Memorials in Russell’s honor may be made to Tower Hill Christian Church and Inner City Mission, Springfield IL and will be accepted by McCracken-Dean Funeral Home who is assisting the family.
McCracken-Dean Funeral Home online obituary.
Russell Owen Young, Sr., 96, of Litchfield, formerly of Tower Hill, passed away Friday, August 28, 2020 at St John’s Hospital, Springfield. He was born March 2, 1924 in Hillsboro, son of the late Harold Dwight Young, Sr. & Ruth Elizabeth (Green) Young.
Russell graduated from Hillsboro High School, Class of 1943. He served 2 years in the Navy during WWII and served 2 more years in the Army during the Korean War. Russell served for over 60 years at Tower Hill Christian Church in leadership as Elder, Deacon, Sunday School Teacher and in the Praise Band. He also served in the Tower Hill Lions Club for 40 years, served on the Village board for several years and Tower Hill School board. He also served as president of the Tower Hill Senior Citizens.
Russell worked as a carpenter prior to moving to Tower Hill, when he started working at Caterpillar in Decatur 1956. He retired at the age of 62 after 30 years. Russell and Ida started working as site supervisors for Inner City Mission in Springfield, IL, a Christian mission to help the homeless to find lasting stability. Later he partnered with his good friend and returned to carpentry.
Everyone that knows Russell will associate him with a passion for playing the harmonica! Russell played the harmonica all his life in bluegrass festivals, praise band, talent shows, at the senior citizens building, family get togethers and wherever there was music. He used his talent for the Lord for the last two decades by putting together a band to play music at Pana nursing homes and Litchfield nursing homes every week until his 96th birthday.
Russell was very involved with political action. He studied and corresponded and supported many conservative groups at the state and national level, evident by the stacks of mail he received daily.
Russell married Ida M. Nelson on August 3, 1946 in St. Paul, MN and she preceded him on September 1, 1992. He married Mary Alice Widner on March 31, 2001 in Tower Hill, IL and she survives in Litchfield.
Russell is also survived by his children: Russell “Butch” (Ruth) Young, Pana; Sharlene “Sherry” (Les) Lindsay, Tower Hill; Kevin (Connie) Young, Forsyth; Kayla Olinger (James Riley), Pana; Wanda Widner (Kenny Tapscott), Pleasant Plains; 13 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; 10 great-great grandchildren; and siblings: Harold Young, Robert “Bob” Young, Gerald “Jerry” Young, David Young, Betty Roper, Alice Deright, Judy Volk, Beverly Smith. In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by his grandson, Casey Olinger; great grandson, Devin Young; and siblings: James Young, Rosaleen Moseley & Burnetta “Nippy” Mohl.
A graveside service for Russell will be held on Sunday, September 6, 2020 in Tower Hill Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Derrick Ritchie officiating and military rites by Pana Veterans Honor Guard.
Memorials in Russell’s honor may be made to Tower Hill Christian Church and Inner City Mission, Springfield IL and will be accepted by McCracken-Dean Funeral Home who is assisting the family.
McCracken-Dean Funeral Home online obituary.
Russell graduated from Hillsboro High School, Class of 1943. He served 2 years in the Navy during WWII and served 2 more years in the Army during the Korean War. Russell served for over 60 years at Tower Hill Christian Church in leadership as Elder, Deacon, Sunday School Teacher and in the Praise Band. He also served in the Tower Hill Lions Club for 40 years, served on the Village board for several years and Tower Hill School board. He also served as president of the Tower Hill Senior Citizens.
Russell worked as a carpenter prior to moving to Tower Hill, when he started working at Caterpillar in Decatur 1956. He retired at the age of 62 after 30 years. Russell and Ida started working as site supervisors for Inner City Mission in Springfield, IL, a Christian mission to help the homeless to find lasting stability. Later he partnered with his good friend and returned to carpentry.
Everyone that knows Russell will associate him with a passion for playing the harmonica! Russell played the harmonica all his life in bluegrass festivals, praise band, talent shows, at the senior citizens building, family get togethers and wherever there was music. He used his talent for the Lord for the last two decades by putting together a band to play music at Pana nursing homes and Litchfield nursing homes every week until his 96th birthday.
Russell was very involved with political action. He studied and corresponded and supported many conservative groups at the state and national level, evident by the stacks of mail he received daily.
Russell married Ida M. Nelson on August 3, 1946 in St. Paul, MN and she preceded him on September 1, 1992. He married Mary Alice Widner on March 31, 2001 in Tower Hill, IL and she survives in Litchfield.
Russell is also survived by his children: Russell “Butch” (Ruth) Young, Pana; Sharlene “Sherry” (Les) Lindsay, Tower Hill; Kevin (Connie) Young, Forsyth; Kayla Olinger (James Riley), Pana; Wanda Widner (Kenny Tapscott), Pleasant Plains; 13 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; 10 great-great grandchildren; and siblings: Harold Young, Robert “Bob” Young, Gerald “Jerry” Young, David Young, Betty Roper, Alice Deright, Judy Volk, Beverly Smith. In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by his grandson, Casey Olinger; great grandson, Devin Young; and siblings: James Young, Rosaleen Moseley & Burnetta “Nippy” Mohl.
A graveside service for Russell will be held on Sunday, September 6, 2020 in Tower Hill Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Derrick Ritchie officiating and military rites by Pana Veterans Honor Guard.
Memorials in Russell’s honor may be made to Tower Hill Christian Church and Inner City Mission, Springfield IL and will be accepted by McCracken-Dean Funeral Home who is assisting the family.
McCracken-Dean Funeral Home online obituary.
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