Arthur Z. Young

Arthur Zell Young, 83, of Balsam Lake died peacefully at his home on August 13, after multiple systems atrophy and dementia had taken their toll on his body and mind.

Art was born on March 27, 1929 at the family home in Crystal Lake Township, Barron county, WI.  He was the youngest of three sons born to Zell and Louise (Fyvie) Young.  Art was very proud of his Scottish heritage.

Art attended Spirit Lake County School and graduated from Cumberland High School.  He was married to Dorothy Kapp where they raised four children before divorcing. He entered the Army in January of 1951; he attended jump school in Fort Bennington, GA, and earned his parachute badge.  Art worked as a mechanic and maintenance man for Gillespie Equipment, The Heights Bowling Center, Precision Sheet Metal, and Timmerman Finishing.  When he wasn't working Art liked to hunt; mule deer in the Dakotas, ducks and geese in Minnesota, and whitetail deer in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  He made one memorable trip to Colorado with his son and brother to hunt elk and got caught in an early season snowstorm.  Canadian trips provided not only fish but many fishing stories.

In 1978 he married Patty Robbins at the Fort Snelling Chapel in St. Paul.  They lived in Camden where Art became the president of the local square dance club, took leather tooling classes, learned to cross country ski, attended Bible School and helped build a church while serving on the council and building committee.  He liked the outdoors; hiking in the state parks of MN, and camping in the Boundary Water Canoe Area and in the Black Hills.  In 1980 they joined a church group on a tour to the Holy Land.

In 1986 Art realized his lifelong dream of living on his own farm after moving to a hobby farm in Milaca, MN.  He began to participate in the Camp Courage Wagon Train rides to raise money for patient camperships.  He and his Tennessee Walker, Lady, did traffic control for several years.  He liked to garden and raised so many vegetables that he had to learn how to can.  His animals provided him with company and kept him busy. Art had horses, ponies, a donkey, chickens, ducks, geese, and even a wild goose that followed him around like a dog.  Allis Chalmers tractors began to appear in the yard providing him with hours of field work.  Winters would find him creating with his scroll saw and cross country skiing.  He did several 13k runs in the Mora Vasaloppet.  Again he was active in church life serving on the board and as president at Bock Lutheran Church in Bock, MN.  He also served on the board of the local food shelf in Milaca.  Farm life suited him well, he loved to have his children and grandchildren come for visits and enjoy the country.  In 2001, after Patty retired, they purchased a home in Balsam Lake.   He did volunteer work for the Historical Society, serving on the board and cooking brats for their auctions.  He also cooked brats to raise money for Interfaith Caregivers.   When Balsam Lutheran built a new church, Art would be found their every day doing whatever he could to help.  Even when his health began to fail he still wanted to be involved.  Art was a cheerful, thoughtful person who always put others first.  He never complained as his life became more and more restricted; he always trusted that God would carry him through any rough spots.

Art leaves to celebrate his memory, Patty Robbins of Balsam Lake; sons, Robert (Julie) Young of Circle Pines, MN and Wayne Zell (Denise) Young of White Bear Lake, MN; son-in-law, Bobby Eades of Collierville, TN; brother, Martin Young of Cumberland; six grandchildren, Brandon (Courtney) Young, Cody Young, Ryan Zell (Angela) Young, Nathan Young, Andrea (Chad) Scott and Kelsey Eades; three great-grandchildren, Kaiya, Derek Zell and Kate; two foster grandchildren, Krista (Tim) Obitts, and Amanda (Mark) Quarterman, cousins, Dory (Bill) Jerke and Aggie (Stu) Linabury; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Melvin, daughter, Cindy Eades and son, Gary Young.

Private family services will be held.

The Kolstad Family Funeral Home of Centuria has been entrusted with arrangements.