Frederick Edward Young's Obituary
Frederick Edward Young was born February 10, 1931, on the south side of Chicago to Frederick and Mabel Young (Lobdell). His first wife Carolyn Ann and younger sister Emma preceded him in death. His beloved Lillian with whom he spent the last gloriously happy 14 years survives him, as do his three children, Lee Ann Young, Lori Ellen Anderson (husband Lee Anderson), son James Frederick Young, grandson Andrew Patrick Anderson, granddaughter Sarah Elizabeth Anderson, and granddaughter Abigail Carolyn Young.
Fred grew up on the south side of Chicago. He loved and played baseball as a child and attended many White Sox games with his dad. Fred graduated from Morgan Park High School, Chicago, Illinois and Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana) with a degree in Agriculture. He spent many happy summers working on the farms of his mother’s relatives, the Lobdell family, around Lena Illinois. The family farm is still located there and is now a historic site.
Fred was a proud veteran of the Army and was stationed at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, Arizona, during the Korean War. After his service in the army, Fred married Carolyn Ann Rathbun on July 18, 1955, at the Glen Ellyn Bible Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. They met while Fred was working at Danada Farms near Chicago. Fred and Carolyn were married for 57 years.
Fred’s first job was in Decatur. He and Carolyn bought a house there where they raised their three children and lived for over 45 years until they began traveling full-time. Fred eventually began working at a country bank in Bethany, Illinois as the Vice President and Trust Officer where he was an innovative farm manager and loan officer.
Fred loved trains from the time he was a young child. He built a train track around the wall of the basement in his house in Chicago, a large tabletop train set that covered half of the basement in the family home in Decatur, and he and his beloved grandson Andrew built a track at his home in Tucson covering the entire backyard!
Fred and Lillian were charter members of Huntley Springs and moved there in November 2019. Fred was so overjoyed to work with his good friends in Huntley Springs on the Christmas train display. The time that he spent at Huntley Springs with Lillian and his good friends brought him great peace and much joy.
Fred loved to travel, which he did extensively either on his motorcycle or in his camping trailer with his first wife Carolyn and later with Lillian. Fred taught Sunday school in Decatur for many years.
Fred loved meeting new people, and he could easily carry on a conversation with anyone. He taught his children to respect and to always be kind to all people. He had wisdom and was a man of integrity with a passion for always learning which he passed on to his children. Fred will always be remembered with great love and fondness, and he forever lives on in his children, his grandchildren and his most precious love, Lillian.
Graceland Fairlawn Funeral Home is providing cremation services for Frederick. Condolences may be shared with the family at https://www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
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