Iris Gwen Young

Iris Gwen Young, age 98, passed away March 5, 2018, in Olympia, Washington, her home of 13 years. She was born August 20, 1919, to David Robinson and Edna (Root) Robinson in rural Sutton, Nebraska. Iris lived through many changes in the world and had many stories to tell. As a child, she wore button boots and fed the barn kitties milk from the family cows. In 1936, Iris graduated from Ong High School in Ong, Nebraska. She started teaching elementary students in a one-room country school in 1937. One of her responsibilities was starting the wood fire in the morning so the school would be warm when the kids arrived for school. Iris married Ralph W. Young on June 9, 1942 in Lincoln, Nebraska, just days before he left to fight in World War II. She wrote a letter to her parents to share the news. Iris took several years off from teaching when she and Ralph started and raised their family. When her children were older, she resumed teaching. The year she described as her most difficult was the year that she taught 3rd - 5th grades and her son was in 3rd grade and her daughter was in 5th grade. Later she had her granddaughter in 1st grade and had to put her in the hall for talking. Iris was a working woman when it wasn't common for a woman to do so. She returned to college and earned a degree in Elementary Education from Concordia College in Seward, Nebraska in 1963. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma. As much as Iris enjoyed teaching, she loved raising her children, Rita and Wayne, even more. Family was central to her life. Tragically, she lost her husband when she was only 53, and when she retired at 65, she moved to Texas to live with her sister as they had lost their husbands in the same week. She and her sister, both independent women, enjoyed the revitalization of their childhood sibling rivalry. Iris took up quilting when she retired from teaching and enjoyed this for the rest of her life. Iris was an award winning quilter and was honored to have quilts shown the Houston International Quilt Show, Trinity Valley Guild Quilt Show, and Olympia Quiltmakers Quilt Show. A member of the United Methodist Church, she hand quilted many quilts to benefit church missions. After moving to Washington State in 2005, Iris made friends with quilters, and they enjoyed her talent and quick wit. Through the years, Iris made more than 150 quilts. Each family member has many beautiful keepsakes created with her careful, loving hands. Iris was a member of Trinity Valley Quilt Guild and Quiltmakers Quilt Guild. Iris also enjoyed oil painting and traveling. She visited places all around the world with her sister and friends. When she became a grandma, she took many flights across the country for important family events and holidays. She enjoyed taking her grandkids on mini adventures, teaching them games and baking for them. She passed along how to make her famous Elephant Ears. Iris is survived by her daughter, Rita Fanning (Rockie) of Olympia, Washington; three grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild. She is predeceased by her husband; son, Wayne Young; grandson, David Fanning; parents; brothers, Keith Robinson and Lyle Robinson; and sister, Fern Robinson Williams.
Service:
1:00 pm - Saturday, May 26th 2018
Officiating:
Pastor Rod Lyon
Inurnment:
GRAVESIDE SERVICE Ulysses Cemetery Ulysses, Nebraska

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Iris Gwen Young, please visit our floral store.