Rev. Kenneth Young

August 23, 1929–December 13, 2022

Rev. Kenneth Robert Young, 93, was born August 23, 1929 in Buffalo, New York, to Arthur C. Young and Viola Schmitt Young. He was their third child.  After his father died in May of 1935, his mother took the family to St. Louis where they lived with her parents, Otto F. and Clara Schmitt.

Rev. Young graduated from Washington University in 1950 with a Bachelor’s degree in social work. He switched from science to social work and then into the ministry, attending Concordia Seminary in St. Louis from 1950 to 1955 (while concurrently studying at Washington University two more years receiving a Master’s degree in 1954.) Upon graduation from Seminary, he married Mildred Meier in June of 1955. Mildred was called out of this life to be with the Lord on September 10, 2017.

Rev. Young has served as a pastor at Calvary Lutheran Church in Charleston, SC and Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Chicago, IL. He also served in missions as an executive for the Northern Illinois District–LCMS from, 1968-1995.

In October of 1995, Rev. and Mrs. Young retired and moved to Chester, Illinois. He assisted at St. John Lutheran Church for two years and then for eight years he served as part time Mission Assistant to President Herb Mueller of the Southern Illinois District. The couple moved to Perryville, Missouri in March of 2015.

Rev. Young is survived by his children: Alice Decker, Ken (Blanca) Young, Stuart (Karen) Young, Tom (Rika) Young, Lois (Andrew) Cortell; his grandchildren: Nathan Decker, Nicole (Dan) Boeder, Adam Decker, Daniel (Cassandra) Young, Christine (Matthew) Medcalf, Kati Young, Alex Young, Sarah Young, Greta Young and Zoe Cortell; great grandchildren: Digory Boeder and Skye Boeder; and brother-in-law: Albert Meier.

Service Information:  

Visitation:
Sunday, December 18  2 p.m.– 4 p.m. at Pechacek Funeral Homes, Chester, Illinois
Monday, December 19   9 a.m. – 10 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, Chester, Illinois

Funeral:
Monday, December 19 10 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, Chester, Illinois

Interment:
St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Chester, Illinois