Norman "Norm" Young

Norman Young was a loving example for all who knew and loved him. Dedicated and driven, he gave selflessly of both his time and resources over the years. A nature lover, he found great solace in spending time outdoors hunting and fishing, as well as raising his bird dogs. Family-oriented, he relished in the times that his family was joined together. Often the first one on the dance floor at a reception, Norm loved to entertain them as well as embarrass them! He was the life of the party and his many special friends and loved ones are richly blessed by the wonderful collection of memories that he leaves behind to cherish forever. So much of America's history was characterized by the year 1941. Franklin D. Roosevelt was leading the United States into unprecedented times. Norman drew his first breath on September 15th in Port Huron, Michigan before the fateful attack by the Japanese at Pearl that same year. His birth brought his parents, Lester and Agnes (McCormick) Young great joy and promise during an era of great change. Born to a set of hard-working parents, Norm learned the value of making an earnest living at an early age. His father was a successful plant manager at Valley Metal and a small business owner and his mother worked as both a secretary as well as a homemaker. By the time he had completed the sixth grade, the family moved to the Plainwell area where Norm excelled as both a student and an athlete. In high school, Norm developed a special relationship with Coach Jack Streidl, who was the most influential man in his life beyond his own father. Streidl helped Norm to become exceptional at anything he put his mind to doing. Norm played football, baseball, and even took the basketball team to the state semi-finals! He also ran track, lettering himself in all four sports during his high school career. In order to make it possible to be involved in two sports held in the same season, he ran track between innings in his baseball uniform! There was no stopping him once he set his mind to something. At the age of seventeen, he had won the Ot-Well-egan Golf Club Championship. His athletic ability garnered him a scholarship to the prestigious Kalamazoo College where he started on the football team and was the captain of the golf team. These early successes paved the way for his many accomplishments in the years ahead. Not to be forgotten was the meeting of his young sweetheart, Vicki! Marrying in 1962, they were blessed with four wonderful children; Mark, Bruce, Kathy, and Eric. A wonderful provider over the years, Norm made a successful career starting out at IBM, then spent a little time in real estate before working at Sentry Insurance as a claims adjustor, and then joined his wife Vicki managing their own business Centennial Antiques. In his later years, he returned to the real estate business before his retirement in 2003. Norm also continued to work on his many rental properties well into his retirement years. Although his years of working were not without their challenges, he never lost sight of the importance of his family. Regardless of how busy he was, he made time to make lasting memories with them. Once, he loaded up the motorhome towing motorcycles behind for an unforgettable trip out west for a month with his wife and children! They fondly reminisced about that trip for years to come. Christmas was his favorite season where he looked forward to sharing presents and having special traditions at the heart of their memories. As a father, he taught each of them the same respect for nature as well as the importance of being true to themselves. They drew on these gifts often during their own challenges with meeting life's expectations. Eventually, his first marriage ended and in 1994 he met Connie. Sharing many of his same interests, they married just one year later. During their time together, he and Connie enjoyed many favorite pastimes including traveling and playing golf together. Norm loved to play golf and was the club champion at Lake Doster several times, including at age 60! Remarkably, during his years on the fairways, he was able to make not one but two holes in one! Golfing was not the only sport he managed to perfect, he also bowled a 300! No matter the activity, Norm wanted to do his best! Despite his knack for anything sports or outdoorsy, his greatest pride and joy was his special relationships with family and friends. With a fresh perspective on nearly every topic, Norm attracted people from all walks of life. A mentor to countless lives he touched over the years, they gained his wisdom and insight as well as his way of making each and every person he met feel special. Credited for helping people see the best in each other as well as teaching them to think with a different perspective, people were easily drawn to his vibrant personality. Generous beyond measure, Norm would often share with his neighbors his catch of bluegill from a recent ice fishing trip or cook up a pheasant which he was still hunting at the age of 74. He never wanted for much, except whenever Connie returned home from the grocery store without any candy, he'd sneak out and grab four bags to hide and enjoy later by himself! Described as an exceptional human being who genuinely looked out for the best for others, Norm was a great friend of Bill W. and will be deeply missed. His rich wisdom, gentle ways, and warm spirit will surely be remembered with fondness. May each and every person who was loved by him find comfort in the joy of knowing such a remarkable man! Norman "Norm" Young, age 76, of Plainwell, passed away on August 22, 2018, at Borgess-Pipp Hospital. Visit with his family and friends on Monday, August 27 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the McCowen & Secord Family Funeral Home Marshall & Gren Chapel; 120 S. Woodhams St. Plainwell, MI. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, August 28 at 11:00 a.m. at the same location. Norm's family includes his wife of 23 years, Connie; his former wife Vicki Young; his children: Mark (Karen) Young, Bruce (Amy) Young, Kathy (Kathy) Young, Eric (Angela) Young, Stephanie (Steven) Richardson, and Darrin (Crystal) Rinehart; his siblings: Tom Young and Beverly Stephenson; 13 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, 5 nieces and nephews and numerous grand nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother in law, Robert Stevenson and his nephew, Jimmy Stephenson. Please visit Norm's memory page at www.mccowensecord.com where you can archive a memory or photo and sign his memory book online. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Michigan Pheasants Forever, SPCA or the charity of your choice.