Carl Young obituary
Carl Eugene Young “Karl Heinz Bender” of Lake City, Minn., age 73, passed away on February 21, 2023 at St. Marys Hospital, Rochester, Minn. Carl’s cause of death was liver failure and the effects of military service-connected disabilities.
Carl’s immediate surviving family members are his wife of 25 years LoriAnna (Kostuch) Young of Lake City, Minn., their son Isaiah J. Young of Burnsville, Minn. Also, Carl’s children from his previous marriage to Dixie K. Young, their sons Matthew A. Young (Crystal Wolf, former spouse of Matthew) and granddaughter Rene R. Young, and Carl E. Young Jr. (Erika Cardinale, former spouse of Carl Jr.) and grandson Porter Young of Post Falls, Idaho. As well as his biological family, including sister Barbel Herrmann of Leimersheim, Germany, sister Christa Rolof of Baden Baden, Germany, brother Werner Herrmann of Baden Baden, Germany, as well as many nieces and nephews throughout Germany and Australia. Carl is also survived by his loving extended family and close friends.
Carl was born in Karlsruhe, Germany, on June 30, 1949, to Tilli B. Bender. Tilli befriended an American couple, Robert E. Young and Alice E. Young, who took Carl to the U.S.A. in an open adoption. Robert was a U.S. Army serviceman, and they moved frequently. Unfortunately, through the years of Carl’s youth, contact was lost with his biological family in Germany. Carl finally settled in Michigan with his adoptive parents and siblings. Carl became a naturalized U.S. Citizen at the age of nine. Carl graduated from Birch Run High School in 1967.
In 1969 Carl voluntarily joined the U.S. Navy as a radio operator, then changed career paths and became a Naval Corpsman, triaging wounded service members and assisted with surgeries on the U.S.S. New Orleans L.P.H. 11. Carl was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1971, continuing in healthcare by getting his respiratory therapy degree at the University of Michigan in 1972. Carl also expanded his career in the medical field by receiving an E.M.T. Certification, a Nursing Assistant Certification, a Rehabilitation Aid Certification, and becoming a Certified Naturopathic Doctor.
Carl and LoriAnna were married in 1997, in Preston, Minn. and lived throughout Wisconsin for the majority of their marriage. They operated a computer repair and sales store and cared for disabled persons. It was during this time his wife LoriAnna was able to locate and reunite Carl with his biological family in Germany and Australia. Carl raised his family in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and always prepared them physically, mentally, and spiritually for any issues they faced. He found joy in assisting those going through difficult times and was a pillar to rely on amongst his family and friends.
In 2011, Carl’s health started to deteriorate due to PTSD and the side effects of Agent Orange. In 2015, Carl moved with his wife LoriAnna and son Isaiah to Lake City, Minn., to retire. Unfortunately, Carl was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in 2017 and was cared for at home by his dedicated and loving wife LoriAnna, for six years until his passing.
Carl had a strong personal relationship with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and always bore testimony of Him in his words and actions. Carl was an Elder in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He later became an ordained minister for the American Fellowship Church (Christian Non-Denominational). He shared his knowledge of the scriptures, emergency preparedness, medicine, and electronics with all of those he came in contact with. Carl’s love for his family, extended family, and friends was profound. Every day Carl prayed thanking the Lord for these wonderful people in his life and asked the Lord for blessings of health, love, and safety for them. Carl’s love for his family and friends was undeniable because he spent every moment he could with them. He had a tender spot in his heart for his emotional support therapy service cat, Licorice. His hobbies included gardening, camping with family and friends, and antique muscle cars.
Carl is preceded in death by members of his biological family, including his mother, Tilli B. Bender of Karlsruhe, Germany, his brother Wolfgang Herrmann of Punch Bowl, Australia, and his sister Heidi Wachter of Karlsruhe, Germany—as well as his adoptive parents, Robert E. Young and Alice E. Young of Leipsic, Ohio. He is also preceded in death by his father and mother-in-law, Edward J. Kostuch and Barbara J. Kostuch.
Carl’s celebration of life will be held Saturday, March 4, 2023, at the Mahn Family Funeral Home at 1022 W. Lyon Ave., Lake City, MN 55041. The celebration of life ceremony will be from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m, followed by a military honors ceremony and a luncheon at the same location.