Mr. George Mitchell Young

George Mitchell Young, 90, was surrounded by family as he passed away peacefully on September 8, 2023. He was born January 26, 1933, to Helen and Edmund “Cy” Young in Dansville, Michigan. He grew up in Dansville and graduated from Dansville Agricultural School in 1950. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Army for two years and was stationed in Japan after the Korean War. He married Eileen Cornford (1930 – 1976) April 23, 1955. They had four children together, Debra, Nannette, Susan and Timothy. George was a devoted husband and father who taught his children the importance of serving God and others by his example of missions and service to those in need.

George was a faithful member of Millville United Methodist Church for decades. He loved to read the Bible and had an unwavering faith in God. He served on a variety of church committees, went on mission trips to Haiti and Mexico where he helped dig wells and build a church in his mother’s memory.

His first job was as an autobody repairman at Lorenz Buick in Lansing. He worked there while earning an associate degree from Lansing Community College and completing courses in land surveying. George was then employed by Wolverine Engineering Company in Mason, Michigan. He became a licensed land surveyor and eventually was co-owner of Wolverine Engineering where he worked until his retirement in 1988.

In the 1970s George served on the Dansville Schools Board of Education and served as president for a time during his terms on the board.

On July 14, 1977, George married Elizabeth Pollok. Because of his love for fishing and as a result of his prior yearly fishing trips with buddies to Ontario, he and Liz purchased Camp Anjigami, a fishing lodge and eventually bought several outpost fishing camps in the area near Wawa, Ontario. He earned his pilot’s license and flew his float plane to service the camps and check on their guests. When it came time to sell the fishing camps, George and Liz built a log cabin on Ogas Lake where they spent many months each summer entertaining family and friends.

George loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, fishing (which he never made enough time for), flying his plane, reading about history and helping others. In his free time, he was in his woodshop making beautiful furniture and cabinetry for his home and others. He dedicated much of his retirement to making works of beauty from wood.

George is survived by his wife of 46 years, Elizabeth; his children Debra (Chuck) Peabody, Nannette (Tom) Smith, Susan (Kevin) Hughes and Timothy (Kelly) Young; grandchildren, Eileen (Kerry) Boggs, Amanda (Josh) McClure, Meagan Hughes, Lauren Hughes, Justin Young and Ethan Young; and three great granddaughters, Addison and Kensley McClure and Elizabeth Boggs as well as several nieces and nephews.

George is preceded in death by his first wife, Eileen; his parents Helen and Edmund Young and his brother Jim Young.

His family would like to thank the dedicated staffs of both Independence Village in Grand Ledge and CorsoCare Hospice for their wonderful care, support and kindness to George and his family.

Visitation will be held on September 14, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. and the funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on September 15, both at Millville United Methodist Church (Stockbridge, Michigan) with a graveside service following the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) in memory of George. As a final thought, please also consider doing an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness for someone because that is what George would do.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

John 14:1-3