Loy Wayne Young

Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary 2060 Commerce Drive North Mankato, Minnesota 56003 507-388-2288 Loy "Rock" Young, age 92, of Lake Washington, Kasota, Minnesota passed away peacefully on Wednesday March 25, 2015. He was committed to the love of his life, Janette, and celebrated 72 years of marriage. A prayer service for family will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2015, at 12:00 noon, at Northview - North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato, MN. Lunch and Celebration of Life will follow from 1:00-3:00 PM. Burial at Glenwood Cemetery, Mankato, MN will take place at 4:00 PM. Loy was born January 21, 1923 in Sumner, Iowa to Loy Reuben Young and Alice Kroblin Young. He met his wife, Janette Alta Mayer, in high school. They were married on June 26, 1943. Loy and Janette were blessed with seven children: Jerry (Mary) Young, Prior Lake, MN; Tom (Mary) Young, Sparta, WI; Judy Blume, Kasota, MN; Bob (Vicki) Young, Mankato, MN; Barb (Bill) Dale, Willmar, MN; Donna Bourne, Tucson, AZ; and Ken (Brenda) Young, Azle, TX. Loy was the proud grandfather of nineteen grandchildren: Jeff (Jessica) Young, Kristen Young, Jim (Colleen) Young, Jenny (Brian) Brooks, David (Jamie) Young, Ashley (Gabe) Miller, Brenda Blume; Amy (Brett) Jordan, Ross (Stephanie) Blume, Laurie (Chris) Steele, Joel Young, Shelly Young, Jason Young, Lance Davis, Corey Davis, Josh (Katie) Dale, Katie (Ryan) Munson, Nate (fiancee Karin) Dale and Brendon Bourne. He is also survived by twenty-two great-grandchildren! Loy is survived by his sister, Nila (Roger, deceased) Barkley, CA; sister-in-law, Elsa Young, MN; brother-in-law, Wayne (Lori) Mayer; sister-in-law, Alice (John, deceased) Mayer; nephew Chris Barkley, CA; niece Angela Barkley, CA; niece Patricia Fischer, MN; niece Connie Maiers, MN; and many other nieces, nephews, and cousins. Loy was preceded in death by his parents, Loy R. and Alice Young; and his brother, James (Gladys) Young. Loy's educational accomplishments include earning a Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in Health and Physical Education from Mankato State College. Loy completed his Doctorate at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. Loy had the nickname of "Rock" dating back to his days as a high school athlete at Mankato TC High School. He was attending Mankato State College when his education was interrupted by WWII. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp where he served as a 2nd Lieutenant and pilot of a C47. He received the Air Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, American Campaign Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, and Victory Medal. He is a lifelong member of the Hump Pilot's Association - an airlift operation between India, Burma, and China. Loy returned to Mankato State College after the war and enjoyed his passion for basketball as a student athlete. He was part of the team which became runners-up at the NAIA Nationals in 1947. In 1948, Loy started his teaching and coaching career as a high school coach in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. He then moved to Dickinson State College, North Dakota and was a teacher and head football coach. Loy moved to Chadron, Nebraska in 1951 to continue his career path at Chadron State College, as a teacher, assistant football coach and head basketball coach. His basketball coaching record during his 5 years at Chadron State earned him the distinguished honor of having the best record in the college's 100 year history! On Feb. 13, 2015, Loy made the trip to Chadron to be honored with the naming of the new basketball court in the Chicoine Event Center. The "Loy Young Court" has his signature on the court! Four of his student athletes were among the many honoring him. In 1956, Loy returned to his alma mater, Mankato State, where he continued to teach health and coach basketball and football. He was inducted to the MSU Hall of Fame as a coach in 1983 and as a student athlete in 1989. Loy was inducted in the Chadron Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992. Loy and Janette retired in 1984. Loy enjoyed golf, boating, traveling, and celebrating life with family and friends in Minnesota and Arizona. We are all fortunate to have shared in Loy's life. He made a lasting impact as a wonderful husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, friend, teacher and coach. Family memorials will be directed to the Loy W. Young Athletic Scholarship at Chadron State College, Nebraska and the Athletic Department at Minnesota State University, Mankato.