John "Russ" Young
May 10, 1948 ~ May 24, 2023
John “Russ” Young (75) passed on May 24th, 2023 in his home (Fargo, ND), surrounded by family.
Russ was born in Quincy, MA on May 10th, 1948 to Ann Hemeon and Arthur Young. Ann divorced and remarried Tom Colligan, who Russ considered his Dad. He went to school and graduated from Weymouth High School. He entered the US Air Force in 1966 as a Jet Engine Mechanic and was eventually stationed at Grand Forks AFB, ND. He met Colleen Achen and they married on July 18, 1970 in East Grand Forks, MN. Russ was discharged from the US Air Force in 1970 and joined the North Dakota Air National Guard in Fargo, ND.
Over the course of his Service, Russ was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War and received 2 Meritorious Medals. He retired in 2001 with the rank of Senior Master Sgt. He is a lifetime member of the VFW (East Grand Forks, MN).
Russ and Colleen resided in Fargo, ND while building their family. He cherished his girls and always said he was glad he never had boys because “boys break bones”. Russ enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing and watching his grandkids play sports.
He is survived by his wife Colleen, daughters Monica Young, Nichole Schwartz (Matthew), Jessica Olson (Thomas), and grandchildren James Strand, Tru Johnson, and Jemma Johnson. Also by his siblings Robert Young (MA), James Young (Jean) (MA), Susan Pieri (MA), Thomas Colligan (FL), Terrance Colligan (Diane) (NH) and Sean Colligan (Kristen) (MA), Brother-in-Law Wayne Rutherford (MA), as well as many nieces and nephews.
Russ is preceded in death by his mother Ann Colligan, stepfather Tom Colligan, sister Patricia Rutherford, sisters-in-law Judy Young and Debra Colligan and brother-in-law Gerald Pieri.
In lieu of a funeral, the family has opted for a Prayer Service located at Boulger Funeral Home (Fargo, ND) on Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 10:00am with visitation starting one hour prior. John “Russ” Young will be entombed at Fargo National Cemetery.
The family would like to give many thanks to Hospice of the Red River Valley for the care and support they have provided.
Services
Visitation - Thursday: June 8, 2023 9:00 am
Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center
123 10th Street
Fargo, North Dakota 58103
7012376441
www.boulgerfuneralhome.com
Memorial Service - Thursday: June 8, 2023 10:00 am
Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center
123 10th Street
Fargo, North Dakota 58103
7012376441
www.boulgerfuneralhome.com
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Sorry to hear of John’s passing, I really enjoyed working with him and just knowing him.
We were best friends 1970-? We had no money and played cards at each others homes. So much FUN 🤩
Miss that simple life. Will miss Russ, too. Godspeed my FRIEND. 🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼❤️
Colleen & girls,
You all have our Sympathy of the loss of your Husband , Father & Grandfather.
I know we knew him as Russ back in 1979-1983 when you watched our children ( Nick & Sarah).
Hold on tight to all the cherished memories you have of him.
Interesting that Nick was born on May 10 & Robert’s birth year is 1948.
Robert & Kathleen Bennett
Colleen and girls – My condolences on the passing of Russ, many great memories growing up on 27th Ave N in Fargo
Betty (Idso) Heller
John it was a pleasure working with you. Rest in peace my friend.
Cathy and Rhonda HInsperger
When I joined the North Dakota Air Guard in 1980, Russ was the Engine Shop trainer who welcomed me into the work area. With red hair still, I quickly found “Russ” to be a most pleasant fellow to introduce me to the Happy Hooligans. With a good sense of humor and an extensive jet engine background, Russ combined the two to bring “weekenders” up to speed on the Hooligan way of doing things. In the early 1980’s, Russ, you see, already had nearly two decades of engine flightline and testing experience under his belt. While Russ, as engine shop trainer and, later, as a supervisor, kept it light in the work area, he also instilled in us the way the NDANG Engine Shop did things…you could play around and enjoy yourself, but you were ever mindful of the need to produce engines that were as safe as humanly possible, for those engines propelled airplanes carrying friends and co-workers aloft. In this way, Russ taught us to embrace the successful work environment of the Happy Hooligans.
During over two decades of working with Russ, memories of all kinds pop up…from his tales of working jets in Vietnam (Thailand, actually) to adventures at Grand Forks AFB (not a lot of those) to his recruitment to the ND Air National Guard when they got the F-101 Voodoo fighters, Russ was full of stories. Along with fellow Hush House testing survivors like Miles McAllister, Gus Mark, Ron Brovold, Myron Hjelden and Gary Stroh, we created some tales of our own as we made our contributions to the NDANG’s never-to-be-duplicated, best-in-the-Air Force/Air National Guard track records with the F-4 Phantom and F-16 Falcon. Russ was a huge part of that.
To be sure, the “Russ Experience” would not have happened or been complete without his wonderful wife, Tina. Tina rounded out the guy Russ was. From running a daycare to making great Reuben sandwiches at Hornbacher’s around St. Patrick’s Day, she somehow managed to find time to visit Russ–and us– at work on occasion. Ah…pleasant memories.
Russ was one of the influencers of my life and I so appreciate that God gave me the opportunity to work with and learn from him. He will be missed. Godspeed, Russ.
Our condolences to your family.
Rest in Paradise, Russ!
Love Always,
Tim C. (and Ihssane, Alana, and Noah)