By Mandi Sakadaris
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  • Visitation

    Monday, September 25, 2023

    4:00 to 7:00 pm

    Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL

  • Service

    Monday, September 25, 2023

    7:00 pm

    Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL

    Graveside Service:

    Saturday, October 7, 2023

    10:00 am

    St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Highland, IL

  • Full Obituary

    Michael H. “Mike” Young, 68, of Highland, IL, passed away on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in O’Fallon, IL.

    He was born on March 30, 1955, in Highland to Hayden and Angela (nee Geiger) Young.

    Mike was born and raised in Highland, graduating from Highland High School in 1973. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education from Centenary College in Shreveport, LA, in 1977, where he also played baseball for 4 years. Mike was a P.E. teacher and a coach for 20 plus years at various schools in Louisiana and Illinois in addition to holding several other jobs over the years.  His true passion was coaching high school basketball.

    He was a member of the Woodmen of The World Fraternal Organization, was a regular blood donor, and became an organ/tissue donor upon his death. He enjoyed fishing on the Geiger family farm ponds, cooking, and socializing. Mike liked watching baseball and college football and basketball on TV.  “March Madness” was one of the highlights of his year. He loved the Fighting Irish and the Fighting Illini, and either loved or hated the LSU Tigers, depending on the day and his mood.  He was one of those rare individuals who could be considered a fan of both the Cardinals and the Cubs, also depending on the day and his mood. He was an avid reader, reading anything and everything he could find including encyclopedias. He liked to philosophize, and he loved Stag Beer; for Mike, beer drinking and philosophizing went hand-in-hand..

    Mike was friendly and outgoing. He never met a stranger, as he could talk to anyone and was never afraid to share his opinion.  He was big and boisterous, but also extremely soft-hearted and loyal.  Mike will be truly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

    He was preceded in death by his parents, Hayden and Angela Young; brother, Mark Young, in infancy.

    Mike is survived by his sisters, Jacquelyn “Jackie” (Billy) Royer, of Lake Charles, LA, Patricia “Patti” (Rodney) Naylor, of Springfield, IL; nieces and nephews, Jennifer (James-Allen) McPheeters, Jamie (Ryan) Monceaux, Hayden “Wade” Naylor, Peyton Naylor; two great nieces; two great nephews; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

    Memorial donations may be made to the Highland American Legion Post 439 for the Baseball Program; when making out a check, please put “Baseball” in the memo, or, to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America.

    Visitation: Monday, September 25, 2023, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm, at Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL

    Funeral Service: Monday, September 25, 2023, 7:00 pm, at Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL

    Clergy: Pastor Chuck Kurfman

    Interment: A graveside service will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2023, 10:00 am, at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Highland, IL

    A funeral luncheon will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at the Highland VFW immediately following graveside services.

    Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL

Condolences are reviewed and published within 24 hours.

6 Condolences
 
  1. Barbara Short / September 21, 2023 at 3:38 pm

    I was Mike’s neighbor and friend and fishing buddy his presence out here was bigger than life he dearly will be missed

  2. Dawn Herrington Stillwagon / September 22, 2023 at 5:32 pm

    I’m so sorry to hear of Mikes passing. I always thought of him as a buddy.

  3. Jay Toups / September 22, 2023 at 9:41 pm

    I loved Mike. We had many beer drinking, philosophizing sessions. We solved a lot of the worlds problems many times over…I also loved working out with him and playing basketball and softball with him. He was one of a kind. He will be greatly missed!

  4. Brad Paoletti / September 30, 2023 at 11:30 am

    I grew up with Mike and played high school and America Legion baseball with him in 1972 and 73. One heck of a pitcher for us. We were neighbors for years as kids. We had a lot of good times. I considered him my best friend in those years. Lost touch with him over the years. He lived in Louisiana for alot of years. A very kind hearted person. May God bless you for eternity.

  5. Brad Paoletti / September 30, 2023 at 11:34 am

    Somehow my condolences ended up above. Do not know how that happened. Love you Mike!

  6. Kim Zinke / October 5, 2023 at 8:07 pm

    I spent a lot of time with Mike during my junior high and high school years. Mike and I are step cousins. I lived in Collinsville. My parents and I would travel to Highland frequently on weekends and during the holidays when I would visit with Mike and his family. We played a lot of competitive backyard basketball and football against each other during our adolescent years. He moved to Louisiana in the early 70s to go to school; I headed north to Wisconsin to do the same. After that we had little opportunity to visit for many years. However, I was able to speak with him just two years ago at my mother’s (Jean Young) funeral service at Merideth in Highland. It was great to see him again after the passing of so many years. My sincerest condolences to Mike’s immediate family and extended family–all of whom rightly recognized Mike to be an All-American boy who led a successful academic and athletic life and accomplished much good! Even though I cannot be in Highland to join with others to celebrate his life, I can continue to recognize Mike as a capital fellow, true friend and great relative!!

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