Gerald "Gerry" M. Young

Gerald “Gerry” M. Young, 85 of Viola, Illinois passed away Monday, April 3, 2023 at home.  Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Monday, April 10, 2023 at Calvary Lutheran Church in New Windsor.  The funeral service will directly follow the visitation at noon.  Memorial contributions may be left to Family House in Peoria.  Peterson Wallin Knox Funeral Home in Alpha is in charge of arrangements and online condolences may be made at www.petersonwallinknox.com.

Gerry was born October 19, 1937 in Galesburg, Illinois to LeRoy “Bob” and Mabel Taylor Young.  He graduated from Winola High School in 1955 and attended Black Hawk East College.  Gerald married Judith Gregg April 26, 1968 in Rock Island.

Gerry was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in Germany from 1960-1963 in the radio communications field.  He developed a love for Volkswagens while he served in Germany.

He was employed at the Viola Telephone Company as a serviceman, Carroll’s in Aledo as a crop duster, Max Spray in Milan, retired from Gates Rubber in Galesburg and was later employed by the New Windsor Telephone Company.

Gerry was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church, FFA, board member of the New Windsor Telephone Company, lifelong member of NRA, founding member of the Rivola Gun Club and president of Wind Hill Range.

He enjoyed aviation, shooting targets, casting bullets, reading, inventing, NASCAR, football, building cannons and mortars.  At the age of 15, Gerry became the youngest certified pilot in Mercer County.  

Survivors include his wife, Judy; four children, Bryan Scott (April) Young of Monmouth; Bobbi-Sue (Dana Sedwick) Young of Viola; Kymberli (Aaron) Rockhold of Viola;  Robert Todd (Krystal) Young of Aledo; eight grandchildren, Kerstyn, Wren, Alex, Grace, Vance, Elijah, Cam, Graham; four great grandchildren, Xander, Thad, Lennox and Louessa; sister, Vicci Pinkerton of Ames, Iowa; brother, Stewart “Spud” (Jan) Young of Viola; several nieces and nephews; his trusted sidekick, Winnie.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step brother, R.B. Coulter; brother-in-law, John Pinkerton; step mother, Marge Young.