John Joseph Young (1923 - 2015)

Born 5 Nov 1923 in Kamsack, Cote No. 271, Saskatchewan, Canada

Ancestors

Died 31 Jul 2015 at age 91 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kathryn Penner [send private message]

Biography

John was the son of Andrew Young and Violet Osborne.

John Joseph (Jack) Young, born in Kamsack, Saskatchewan on November 5, 1923, passed away in Thunder Bay on Friday, July 31, 2015.

Through his childhood, he lived in numerous Saskatchewan communities, as his father was a railway mechanic. Finishing high school in North Battleford, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in September 1942 and served as aircraft instrument technician in England and Scotland.

Following the war, he attended the University of British Columbia on a veterans' education plan, and there he met the love-of-his-life-to-be, Anna (Anne) Dorothy Rohn, as she dished out his meals at the residence cafeteria. They married in May 1949 as Dad graduated with two degrees, one being a social work degree that led to a job in Fernie, B.C. where he subsequently was made an honorary chief of a First Nation, as a result of his work.

Meanwhile, he served in the RCAF (Auxiliary) while a full-time student, and rejoined the RCAF (Regular) in 1954 after returning from the University of London, England, where he obtained a post-graduate diploma in social work.

For the next 17 years in the Air Force, Dad's title was ASWelO (Area Social Welfare Officer). He would help Air Force personnel with personal or social problems, of which we children never were told details. But on many a Saturday, when our family was out together in the Volkswagen Beetle, we would sit in the car outside clients' homes for what seemed like hours while Dad was in there counselling them after having told us “I'll just be five minutes.” (Mum must have had the patience of Job).

Stationed in Europe from 1964 to 1969, Dad developed a keen interest in German culture and language, which continued through the decades and resulted in many friendships and return trips.

He left the RCAF (Regular) in 1970 and moved to Thunder Bay in 1971. Dad made many friends while Chief Social Worker at Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital. He had a passion for professional social work education. Jack derived a lot of pleasure in organizing and hosting parties and social events for the many groups with which he was affiliated.

Not long after moving to Thunder Bay, he joined the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves, thus beginning another long series of involvements, initiatives, commitments, enthusiasms and friendships. These included, at various times:

• Royal Canadian Air Force Benevolent Fund
• Co-founder of the Social Work Branch of the RCAF
• Society of Military Social Workers
• Co-founder of the Thunder Bay Branch of the Ontario Association of Professional Social Workers (now OASW)
• John Howard Society
• Member of advisory group that was instrumental in establishment of the Social Work Department of Lakehead University
• Involvement in start-up of Alpha Court Community Mental Health Case Management
• Defence Medical Association of Canada, Thunder Bay Branch, Secretary/Treasurer
• Wine-tasting evenings at the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment and Garrison Officers' Mess
• Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel then Honorary Colonel of 18 Service Battalion
• Founder and Curator of the Thunder Bay Military Museum
• Attended many courses and conferences of the Organization of Military Museums of Canada Inc.
• St. John Ambulance, Thunder Bay Branch: Board of Directors, Fund Development Committee and Communications Chair
• The Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem: Commander (CLJ) and Member of Merit (MMLJ)
• Other medals and decorations: Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Forces Decoration with Clasp

• Vice-Chairman/Acting Chair of the Senate of 18 Service Battalion
• Thunder Bay Military History Society
• United Way of Thunder Bay volunteer
• Royal Canadian Legion, Port Arthur Branch No. 5 Executive Committee
• Chairman of the Thunder Bay District Veterans' Fund

Jack was predeceased in 2011 by Anne, his devoted wife for over 62 years. He is also predeceased by his son-in-law Rob Flank; brother Gordon (and Joyce) Young and sister Noreen (and Pat) Murphy; brothers-and-sisters-in-law John (Bea) Rohn, Matt (Rose) Rohn, Carl (Helga) Rohn, Warren (Ev) Rohn; niece Bonnie Whiteley and nephew Curtis Gray.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Obituary. The Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal. 11 Aug 2015. https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/chroniclejournal/name/john-young-obituary?id=43035819 Accessed 7 May 2024.

See Also:

• Find a Grave, database and images, memorial page for John Joseph Young (5 Nov 1923–31 Jul 2015), Find A Grave: Memorial #232051960, citing Riverside Cemetery, Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada; Maintained by Anna Banana (contributor 49951279).