Robert Young

Former Saginaw area State Senator, Robert D. Young, 79, died unexpectedly on Friday, Oct. 4, 2013. Young served the State Legislature for 12 years between 1970 and 1982 after spending several years serving constituents at the local level. A memorial service will be held in Grayling, MI on Monday, Oct. 7 and the funeral will take place in Bridgeport, MI on Tuesday, Oct. 8. For more details on funeral arrangments, visit www.sorensonlockwood.com. Young is survived by his wife, Shirley, his daughter Mary Jo and her husband Howard Ring, his daughter Barb and her husband Gary Konuszewski, and his son Gary and his wife Amy Young. Young enjoyed his eight grandchildren: Ashley and Courtney Ring; Garrett, Spencer, Mackenzie and Hunter Konuszewski; and Connor and Harrison Young. Also surviving are his mother-in-law Mary Davis and Shirley's two brothers: Harold Horton and his wife Janice, and Jack French and his wife Margaret. Young was born in 1934 on his family's farm in Spaulding Township. He went to Saginaw High and attended Michigan State University. In 1957, he returned to Saginaw to run his own 400-acre farm and build homes. His first public office was Spaulding Township Supervisor (1963-1967). He later became Saginaw County Commissioner (1968-1970). Young ran for his first state office in 1970. He became a State Representative and served two consecutive terms. In 1974 he won a seat in the State Senate and represented constituents from Saginaw to Crawford County for the next eight years. After a successful and exciting career in politics, Young took a new role as the Executive Vice President of the Great Lakes Sugar Beet Growers Association in 1983. He represented the growers in both Lansing and Washington D.C. for a total of 13 years before officially retiring in 1996. Since then, Young, along with his wife Shirley, lived in Grayling, MI on Lake Margrethe during the summers and in Dunedin, FL during the winters. He was active in many community or charitable organizations including the Masons, Lion, Crawford County Historical Society, and his residential community in Florida. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert Young, please visit our flower store.