Kenneth V. "Punchy" Young

Kenneth V. Young, age 82, of Elkton died Sunday morning, July 1, at his home with his family by his side.
He was born September 1, 1924 at the home of his parents, the late Victor and Ida (Winzel) Young in Oliver Twp.
Ken joined the US Army in September of 1943 and served in the European, African and Middle Eastern Theaters and was wounded in the Normandy invasion in July of 1944. He returned home in December of 1945. Several months later he was united in marriage to Ilene Grigg on September 20, 1946 at the Elkton Methodist Parsonage.
His early employment was as the milkman for the Elkton Dairy. In 1961, he began work at the Elkton Petroleum Co-op, retiring as manager in 1984.
Ken " Punchie" as he was known, was very active in his community, besides being a life long member of the Elkton United Methodist Church, serving as trustee many years, he had been a member of the Elkton Ambulance Service, Elkton-Oliver Fire Dept., past president of the Elkton Rotary Club, past Commander of the Carpenter-Dorsch VFW Post, Purple Heart Assn. and was on the Elkton Village Council 2 terms. He was named the Huron County Firefighter of the Year in 1974. Ken will also be remembered as one of Elkton's premier race car drivers at Owendale and Cass City, driving number 5 and hailing the nickname of "Grandpa Young". He enjoyed playing softball, golf, bowling and deer hunting, but his biggest love was being with his family.
Surviving is his wife of over 60 years, Ilene; four children, Ken (Priscilla) Young of Livonia, Dennis (Jan) Young of Elkton, Cindy (Rob) Sprague of Linwood and Tammy (Steve) Gnagey of Pigeon; eleven grand children; four great grandchildren, his sister, Helen (Bob) Mero of Merince and sister-in-law, Lena McGee of Elkton.
Preceding him in death was his son, Gary in 1963; two brothers, Eldon and Bill Young and his sister, Vernita Divo.
Funeral services will be conducted 11:00 AM Tuesday, July 3, at the Elkton United Methodist Church with burial at Riverside Cemetery, Elkton.
Friends may call at the Champagne Funeral Chapel, Elkton from 2 to 9 PM Monday and at the church after 10 AM Tuesday.
Memorials may be given to the Oliver Twp. Fire Dept. or the Elkton United Methodist Church.