In Memory Of
Otis "Lynn" Young
1935
2024
Otis "Lynn" Young
May 25, 1935 — June 10, 2024
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Otis "Lynn" Young, 89, of Roeland Park, Kansas, passed away on Monday, June 10, 2024. He was born on May 25, 1935, in Topeka, Kansas, to Otis and Frances (Scott) Young.
Lynn was an Eagle Scout and earned the "God and Country" medal. He graduated from Topeka High School in 1953. He enlisted in the Army National Guard and attended Pittsburg State University. While there, he was recruited to join the Army 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was quickly chosen to join the 101st Airborne Division "Screaming Eagles" in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He played the clarinet in the Army Band while serving in Europe.
His best friend invited him to go on a blind date in February 1957 with his girlfriend and her best friend, Carleen Fields from Nashville, Tennessee. They fell in love right away. They were engaged when Carleen graduated from Hume-Fogg High School that May. They married in Nashville on December 14, 1957.
They moved to Fort Campbell, where Lynn completed his service. Then they moved to Topeka, so Lynn could complete college at Washburn University, majoring in social work. As a senior student in 1962, married with two young children, he was offered and accepted a job in Kansas City, Kansas. Their third child was born the following March.
Lynn began working at the Gas Service Company and bought a house in Roeland Park in 1966, where they lived until they moved into a skilled nursing facility in 2021. He accepted an early retirement at age 55 after working for 25 years at the Gas Service Company, and worked at the Johnson County Library for the next 10 years.
He enjoyed gardening and fixing up the house. He gathered bicycle parts and repaired neighbor kids' bikes, wagons and go-karts. He crafted wood toys, cars, mini kitchens, bike ramps, music stands, chalk boards and furniture for their home. Money might have been short, but Lynn was extremely resourceful and provided everything his family needed.
Lynn and Carleen served and worshipped at Westwood Christian Church from 1966 to 2019 and then at Countryside Christian Church. He served as an elder and taught Sunday School classes for various ages. He performed special music on the harmonica, clarinet, piano and vocals on numerous occasions, and he sang in the choir.
He taught and encouraged his children in school, church, sports and music. He and Carleen attended countless band concerts. He taught his kids how to ride a bike, drive a car, and fish, and to do their very best at everything. He demonstrated how to take care of their cars, their families and each other. He always supported his family in every way he could.
He started a yearly family tradition of annual men's poker parties, where the previous year's winner supplied the next trophy.
He valued his relationship with the Lord above all, followed by his family and friends, of whom there were many. He was a fan of the Chiefs and Royals, and maintained a fondness for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was an avid reader, especially westerns.
His favorite holidays were July 4th and Thanksgiving. A family tradition was blowing up lots of stuff on July 4.
Lynn and Carleen moved to Shawnee Gardens in 2021 where they shared the same room. Even then, Lynn's main focus was to take care of Carleen, whom he always dearly loved.
Lynn worked hard, played hard and prayed even harder. (Matthew 25:23)
Lynn is survived by his wife, Carleen Young; daughter, Tammy (David) Smale; and sons Mike (Penny) Young and Jim (Jennifer) Young; grandchildren David Lee (Rebekah) Smale; Julie (Erich) Braden; Emily Young; Noah Young and Maizie Young; and great-grandchildren Coraline Braden, Renley Braden and Amelia Smale.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
The family will receive guests for a visitation from 1-2 p.m. on Monday, June 10, 2024, at Penwell-Gabel's Olathe Chapel, with the funeral service following at 2 p.m.
To leave a message for Lynn's family, or to share a special memory, please click on the "Share Memories" button above.
Otis "Lynn" Young, 89, of Roeland Park, Kansas, passed away on Monday, June 10, 2024. He was born on May 25, 1935, in Topeka, Kansas, to Otis and Frances (Scott) Young.
Lynn was an Eagle Scout and earned the "God and Country" medal. He graduated from Topeka High School in 1953. He enlisted in the Army National Guard and attended Pittsburg State University. While there, he was recruited to join the Army 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was quickly chosen to join the 101st Airborne Division "Screaming Eagles" in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He played the clarinet in the Army Band while serving in Europe.
His best friend invited him to go on a blind date in February 1957 with his girlfriend and her best friend, Carleen Fields from Nashville, Tennessee. They fell in love right away. They were engaged when Carleen graduated from Hume-Fogg High School that May. They married in Nashville on December 14, 1957.
They moved to Fort Campbell, where Lynn completed his service. Then they moved to Topeka, so Lynn could complete college at Washburn University, majoring in social work. As a senior student in 1962, married with two young children, he was offered and accepted a job in Kansas City, Kansas. Their third child was born the following March.
Lynn began working at the Gas Service Company and bought a house in Roeland Park in 1966, where they lived until they moved into a skilled nursing facility in 2021. He accepted an early retirement at age 55 after working for 25 years at the Gas Service Company, and worked at the Johnson County Library for the next 10 years.
He enjoyed gardening and fixing up the house. He gathered bicycle parts and repaired neighbor kids' bikes, wagons and go-karts. He crafted wood toys, cars, mini kitchens, bike ramps, music stands, chalk boards and furniture for their home. Money might have been short, but Lynn was extremely resourceful and provided everything his family needed.
Lynn and Carleen served and worshipped at Westwood Christian Church from 1966 to 2019 and then at Countryside Christian Church. He served as an elder and taught Sunday School classes for various ages. He performed special music on the harmonica, clarinet, piano and vocals on numerous occasions, and he sang in the choir.
He taught and encouraged his children in school, church, sports and music. He and Carleen attended countless band concerts. He taught his kids how to ride a bike, drive a car, and fish, and to do their very best at everything. He demonstrated how to take care of their cars, their families and each other. He always supported his family in every way he could.
He started a yearly family tradition of annual men's poker parties, where the previous year's winner supplied the next trophy.
He valued his relationship with the Lord above all, followed by his family and friends, of whom there were many. He was a fan of the Chiefs and Royals, and maintained a fondness for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was an avid reader, especially westerns.
His favorite holidays were July 4th and Thanksgiving. A family tradition was blowing up lots of stuff on July 4.
Lynn and Carleen moved to Shawnee Gardens in 2021 where they shared the same room. Even then, Lynn's main focus was to take care of Carleen, whom he always dearly loved.
Lynn worked hard, played hard and prayed even harder. (Matthew 25:23)
Lynn is survived by his wife, Carleen Young; daughter, Tammy (David) Smale; and sons Mike (Penny) Young and Jim (Jennifer) Young; grandchildren David Lee (Rebekah) Smale; Julie (Erich) Braden; Emily Young; Noah Young and Maizie Young; and great-grandchildren Coraline Braden, Renley Braden and Amelia Smale.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
The family will receive guests for a visitation from 1-2 p.m. on Monday, June 10, 2024, at Penwell-Gabel's Olathe Chapel, with the funeral service following at 2 p.m.
To leave a message for Lynn's family, or to share a special memory, please click on the "Share Memories" button above.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Otis "Lynn" Young, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Monday, June 17, 2024
1:00 - 2:00 pm (Central time)
Penwell-Gabel - Olathe Chapel
Service
Monday, June 17, 2024
Starts at 2:00 pm (Central time)
Penwell-Gabel - Olathe Chapel
Guestbook
Visits: 3
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