Gerald Alan Young

Gerald Alan Young, age 91, of rural Effingham passed away at 6:30 A.M. on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 in his home. Although he will be greatly missed we are comforted by the assurance that he is now with his Lord.

Services for Gerald will be held at the Altamont Christian Church in Altamont, Illinois on Friday, December 5, 2025. Visitation will be held from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M. with the funeral service immediately following at 11:00 A.M. Interment will be in Arborcrest Memorial Park in Funkhouser, Illinois with graveside services immediately following the funeral. The family is being assisted by Johnson Funeral Home of Effingham.

Gerald was born on Wednesday, August 22, 1934 in rural Effingham, Illinois, the only child of John W. and Mabel M. (Vail) Young. He attended North Fairview School near his home and Altamont High School, graduating in 1952. Gerald grew up on the family farm and engaged in farming for many years. He was a skilled woodworker and held positions with Rouleau Cabinet Shop, Frederking Construction and Altamont Lumber Company in Altamont. He eventually started his own woodworking and remodeling business in partnership with his son, Steven Young. Later in life he worked for a time at K-Bowl in Effingham.

Gerald and Mary Ann (Finfrock) Young were married on June 30, 1957 in Dexter Methodist Church and enjoyed 67 years together until her death on August 25, 2024. They made their home in rural Effingham on the farm where Gerald grew up near Dexter, Illinois. Gerald moved the one room school house he attended as a boy nearer to the main road and remodeled and added to it to become the family home. Gerald was talented both artistically and musically. He used his artistic talent to remodel and decorate the family home as well as many other projects. He was always inventing a better way to do something or constructing tools or decorative items from unusual materials. He taught himself to make stained glass pieces and had several displayed in his home.

Gerald had a good musical ear, playing several instruments, but his primary instruments were the piano and the autoharp. Gerald and Mary Ann enjoyed many evenings at the Altamont Opry and Edgewood Opry later in life, where Gerald often played his autoharp with the band.

Gerald was also a skilled clock builder and repairman, building several clocks and repairing and restoring countless clocks through the years. People would travel from all over the area bringing clocks to be repaired.

Gerald was a member of Dexter Methodist Church near his home for most of his life, attending Funkhouser Methodist Church, Funkhouser, IL and Altamont Christian Church, Altamont, IL in his later years. He served as a Sunday School teacher and church pianist.

Gerald is survived by sons, Steven A. (Marsha) Young, Effingham and Jerry D. (LaCletia) Young, Effingham; daughters, Diane E. (Paul) Davidson, Greenville and Linda Young, Altamont; grandsons, Bryan (Ashlee) Davidson, Greenville and Mitchell (Shelby) Young, Effingham, and six step-grandchildren; great-granddaughters, Katelyn Davidson, Jade Davidson, and Amelia Young, with twin great-grandchildren on the way, as well as six step-great-grandchildren. Gerald is also survived by a sister-in-law, Marsha Finfrock, Altamont, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary Ann; grandson, Tyler Davidson; brothers-in-law, John (Marcia) Finfrock and Benson Finfrock; sisters-in-law, Sarah (James) Warren, Luella (Harlan) Hooks, Jane (Danny) Pugsley; and Allegra (David) Ellis.

Memorials in honor of Gerald may be given to Altamont Christian Church, Altamont, Illinois designated for the church steeple fund.