Eugene "Gene" Young

Gene Young, age 93, passed on January 16, 2024.  He was born on October 9, 1930, in Decatur , Illinois to Ennah (Lowery ) and  James Young  He is survived by Linda, his wife of nearly 50 years.  He is also survived by 6 children:  Sarah Cramer, Susan Williams (John), Sandy Sullivan (Todd), Kristen Litvin, David Young (Angie), and Maggie Simmons (Sean).  He felt  especially blessed to have 14 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Gene served in the Airforce during  the Korean War. For many years he  attended Airforce reunions with  friends he had served with on Guam.   Last year he represented the Korean War veterans on a panel of veterans who ranged from WWII to the present.

 After his war service,  Gene  attended Millikin University and later the  University of Illinois where he received a Masters degree in Political Science.  He taught high school students in Decatur, Illinois and then in the Littleton Public Schools where his subjects included Political Science, Western Civilization, and Language Arts.  For many summers he  worked as a seasonal park  ranger  for the National Park Service.  He worked at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and the Custer Battlefield and specialized as a naturalist and historian.

 Gene was an avid reader until the end of his life.  He especially enjoyed C.S. Lewis, Bonhoeffer, Western history, and religious history.

 Throughout his life he loved sports.  He participated in senior golf tournaments, and hiked, skied and fished for many years. He attended a number of Rockies games the final summer of his life.

 Since the 1970’s Gene was a member of St.John’s Lutheran Church.   He served as an elder and was a member of the senior group where he participated by presenting talks on subjects such as C.S. Lewis and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.  

 During the final year of his life, Gene remained active. He  and Linda attended performances given by the Santa Fe Opera , Colorado Ballet , Central City Opera, the Colorado Symphony, and Opera Colorado.  .Music was indeed an important part of his life.   One program of special significance was a memorial concert presented by Linda’s cousin , Christina Lynn-Craig, to honor the music of her late husband, Alex Craig. 

Throughout his last year, he was a part of many family gatherings, and his large and loving family members were with him when he passed.   He will be missed by many.

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to The Allied Arts , Denver Lyric Opera Guild,or India Transformed.

 A memorial service will be held on Saturday,16th March, 2024, 2:30pm at St. John’s Church and School, 700 S. Franklin St., Denver  80209.  A reception at the church immediately follows the service.