James Allen Younger
Marriages
Martha Jean Masters - 1952
Married in Kansas City, Missouri
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 6C - October 30, 2022
James Allen Younger
was born July 4, 1930,
in Neenah, Wisconsin.
There were fireworks that
day, and they continued
until October 25, 2022,
when Jim died in Grand
Junction, Colorado, from heart complications. In the
words of the song, Jim was:
A Yankee Doodle Dandy
A Yankee Doodle, do or die,
A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam
Born on the Fourth of July
One born in the United States on July 4 ought to be
a patriotic, flag-waving, fireworks-loving all American
-- and Jim fit the bill.
Jim grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, the youngest
child of Harvey and Lucy Younger, and shared life with
his siblings; John, Bill and Louina. Summers were spent
at the family’s primitive cottage on Lake Winnebago.
Jim was an Eagle Scout and graduated from Appleton
High School in 1948.
Jim enrolled at Beloit College. During his second
year, his life was profoundly and positively altered
when he met Martha Jean Masters, a well-spoken and
beautiful Beloit student from Kansas City, Missouri.
Following Jim’s graduation, B.S., geology, Jim and
Martha married in Kansas City, in 1952.
They began married life in Madison, Wisconsin,
where Jim matriculated in the master’s program in
geology, University of Wisconsin. After completing
one semester, Jim heard from his Uncle Sam (see song
lyrics above), that his services were requested for the
United States Army. Jim served two years, mostly in
Stuttgart, Germany. Following his honorable discharge,
he returned home for a happy reunion with Martha.
Jim resumed master’s studies and completed
classwork in 1956. He and Martha welcomed their first
child, David, in Madison. Upon completing his thesis,
Jim received a master’s degree in geology.
Why geology? In part, it was the appeal of working
outdoors -- sunshine, fresh air, and traversing hill and
dale in search of valuable minerals. However, Jim’s
first geology employment was at the Bunker Hill
Mine, Kellogg, Idaho, where he worked 3,000 feet
underground. Jim and Martha welcomed their second
child, Steven, in Kellogg in 1958.
In 1960, Jim, Martha and their boys arrived in
Colorado and Jim worked for Union Carbide Corporation
as a uranium exploration geologist, briefly in Cortez,
then Uravan, then Grand Junction, then Victoria, Texas,
then back to Grand Junction until 1983. In those days,
uranium was king in Western Colorado; Jim spent time
in the mines, but there was also sunshine and fresh air,
and there were hills and dales to traverse.
As the uranium industry declined, Jim and Martha
purchased and operated Canvas Products Company in
Grand Junction for several years and retired in 1989.
Jim and Martha loved one another and loved being
with one another. They traveled to 51 countries on five
continents. Family driving vacations across America?
Very important. Square dancing? Yes. Bridge? By all
means. Lighting candles on the Christmas tree? A
revered tradition -- and never a fire disaster.
Jim faithfully joined, attended and supported the local
church, in Kellogg, Idaho, then Uravan Community
Church, then First Presbyterian Church in Grand
Junction, then Grace Presbyterian in Victoria, Texas,
then back to First Presbyterian.
Jim’s sense of humor was a defining personal
attribute. His work ethic was exemplary, and he taught
that whether the task was menial, or lofty, it is to be
done excellently. He believed that regardless of one’s
calling or career, “there is always room at the top.”
Jim was first and foremost a good husband, father,
grandfather and great-grandfather. Jim and Martha
celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on August
30, 2022, and their family paid tribute to their Godhonoring commitment to marriage, love, respect and
preferring the other above self. Jim is survived by his
wife, Martha Younger; son, David Younger (Judy) of
Grand Junction; son, Steven Younger (Brenda) of Colby,
Kansas, seven grandchildren, and eighteen greatgrandchildren.
Jim’s memorial service is November 1, 2022, 11:00
A.M. at First Presbyterian Church, Grand Junction. For
a memorial gift, consider First Presbyterian Church,
3940 27 1/2 Road, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506, and
Village Missions, 696 E. Ellendale Ave., Dallas, Oregon
97338. Finally, we commend to you I Corinthians 15:51-
58.
