Don Young

Donald Robert Young, 85, of Kuna, passed away peacefully Thursday, June 21, 2012. Don was born September 11, 1926, to Chester C. and Lottie Mae Young. He was a life-long resident of Kuna, Idaho, leaving only to serve in the United States Army during World War II. He was a graduate of Kuna High School and attended Boise Junior College. On June 6, 1949, he married Henrietta Perraut. The couple went on to have four children and celebrate 58 years of marriage before Henrietta’s passing in 2007. In 1957, Don – a lath and plasterer by trade – started his own business. With his wife and sons by his side, his company, Don Young Construction & Supply, Inc., built homes, churches, schools, banks, and other projects across the state until 2005. He had a reputation for being a tough but honest businessman. Don was an avid athlete, participating in baseball, bowling, golf, and trapshooting. He gave up the opportunity to play professionally for the Chicago Cubs in order to start a family. Sports played an important part in his life, and he enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren in sport, sponsoring bowling teams, breeding and owning race horses, and trapshooting at the Boise and Caldwell Gun Clubs, where he was a life member. He loved watching Atlanta Braves games on television, and if he dozed off during the game, he would quickly wake up if anyone attempted to change the channel. In addition to sports, Don enjoyed serving his community. He was a life member of the Nampa Elks, Good Sams, and the Kuna Lions Club, serving as its President in 1975. Don is survived by his sons, Michael Young and Don Neil “PeeWee” Young, both of Boise, and his daughter, Loretta Young-Sidener of Meridian. He is also survived by four grandchildren and their spouses: Stephanie Young-Birkle and her husband, John Birkle, of Woodland, California; Jennifer Young and her husband, Travis Pauley, of Kuna; Nicholas Young and his wife, Jackie Young, of Kuna; and Breanne Young of Meridian. He is survived by six great-grandchildren: Grant and Lauren Birkle, Emma and Hannah Young, Katelyn and Cash Pauley. Don was preceded in death by his wife Henrietta and his oldest son, Steven.