Joseph Younk

Joseph W. Younk, age 73, of Royalton, MN, passed away Sunday, November 27, 2011 at the St. Cloud Hospital. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Royalton, MN, with Fr. Laurn Virnig officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery with military honors by the Royalton American Legion. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 P.M. Friday, December 2, 2011 at Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Royalton with the Knights of Columbus Office of the Dead at 5:00 P.M. followed by parish prayers at 6:30 P.M. Visitation will continue at the funeral home on Saturday from 9:30 - 10:30 A.M. Joseph William Younk was born on September 22, 1938 on the family farm in Bellevue Township, Morrison County, Minnesota to the late Joseph N. & Helen R. (Krystosek) Younk. He grew up on the family farm and attended Royalton Public Schools, graduating with the Class of 1958. Shortly after his schooling he enlisted in the United States Navy where he served for four years. He was united in marriage to Rosemary Klisch on June 26, 1965 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in St. Cloud, MN. The couple lived in Long Prairie and Little Falls before settling near Royalton where Joe was able to realize his dream of returning to the family farm where he was born and raised. Joe worked for the Minnesota Department of Transportation for 38 years along with farming. Even after his retirement he continued farming and working for MN DOT, plowing snow during the winter. He enjoyed breeding and raising American Quarter Horses and shared this love with his family and friends. Joe also enjoyed spending time with his friends at the Senior Center in Royalton on a daily basis, as well as working at the Royalton American Legion Fish Fry. He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Royalton American Legion, a life-long member of the American Quarter Horse Association and a Charter Member of the Morrison County Sheriff Mounted Posse. He was also a First Aid instructor for MN DOT for many years. Joe has blessed so many with his love, kind heart, sense of humor, friendship, quiet and strong presence, as well as his compassion and courage. He always said, "God never gives us a cross we can't handle." Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 46 years, Rosemary of Royalton; children, Bill (Rossy) Younk of Greeley, CO, Bonita (Ben) Davis of Ithaca, NY and Karen (Dean) Meyer of Meire Grove, MN; grandchildren, Zach Thomas, Nick Davis, Noah Davis, Evan Davis, Sarah Meyer, Aaron Meyer, Kristin Meyer and Kayla Meyer; brother, Jim (Judy) Younk of Watertown, MN; brother-in-law, Roger Thompson of Alexandria, MN, and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph & Helen (Krystosek) Younk; brother, David Younk; sister, Dorothy Thompson and nephew, Aaron Younk. Memorials preferred to Coborn Cancer Center and St. Gabriel's Hospice.