Peter "Pete" Joel Young

July 5, 1957 - January 9, 2021

Peter (“Pete”) Joel Young, 63, of Plain, WI passed away Saturday, January 9, 2021 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. He was born on July 5, 1957 in Richland Center, WI to Martin Andrew and Donna Mae (Reagles) Young. Survivors include his son Peter (Mary) Young of Richland Center; granddaughters Brooklyn and Haley Young of Richland Center; brothers Dennis (Barb) Young of Reedsburg, WI, Mike (Chris) Young of Bear Valley, WI, and Dan (Sherri) Young of Richland Center; 11 nieces and nephews; and additional relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Timmy Young, and his sister Jane Young. After attending River Valley High School, Pete started coursework at UW-Madison to pursue a career in paleontology. He earned his degree at MATC as a machinist. He was a brilliant man with a genius level IQ and was always humble and kind. Pete worked hard his whole life doing various unique jobs. He started training horses on the farm in Bear Valley, worked for Ederer Dairy, worked with a crew setting up silos, and worked for many years at The House on the Rock restoring musical organs. There was nothing he couldn’t fix and always had side jobs fixing large church organs and putting up windmills. For a few years he worked for Richland Industries as a machinist, then at Kramer’s on their job site, and finally at Cardinal Glass. He enjoyed his work friends, especially his good friend and boss Jenna Johnson. Pete’s greatest joy in life was his family: his son, Peter, daughter-in-law, Mary, and their girls, Brooklyn and Haley. He spent most weekends with them on various excursions such as hiking, riding and fixing dirt bikes, mushroom hunting, going to the fish fry at St. Luke’s in Plain, vacationing in Door County, and enjoying the water parks and fireworks in Wisconsin Dells. He loved to spoil his granddaughters with quality time, giving them rides on his shoulders, and getting right down on the floor with them to read books. When his granddaughter was in the children’s hospital, he was right by her side offering comfort and fun activities to keep her mind busy. Pete passed on his knowledge and passion of fixing engines, dirt bikes, and motorcycles to his son and granddaughters. They remember fondly working closely together on many projects over the years. Pete joined the Badger Gas and Steam Engine Club in 1965 and was a member for 55 years. He enjoyed participating in the yearly show in Baraboo, WI. He took his son when he was a child and then his granddaughters for many years. His son’s family will continue to carry on the tradition. Pete displayed rare gas engines every year at the show and enjoyed talking to everyone who came by with questions regarding the history of the engines. Pete will be remembered as a kind and honest man who would gladly lend a hand to anyone in need. He loved life, his family, and Kwik Trip coffee. He will be missed by many. Upon Peter’s wishes, no formal funeral services will be held at this time. Due to the pandemic, the family will have a celebration of life when it is safe to do so with details to be announced in the RC Shopping News. The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be sent directly to the family or The Clary Memorial Funeral Home (noting Pete Young in the memo) to help cover final expenses. Clary Memorial assisted the family with arrangements. .