John Winston Young, age 72, of Picayune, Mississippi, passed away Tuesday, August 22, 2017.

Preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur H. Young and Myrl V. Lindahl Young. Left to cherish his memory are his son, Joseph Wilbur Young of Ponca City Oklahoma; his sisters, Susan C. Young of St. Paul, Minnesota; and Diane Blaisdell (Larry) of Hampton, Georgia.

John was born in Los Angeles on March 13, 1945. He and his mother moved to Meridian, Mississippi shortly thereafter, while his father was serving with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during WWII.

The family moved to Minnesota in 1950 where John graduated from Sibley High School in 1963, and attended the University of Minnesota, until he enlisted in the Army in 1966.

He served two tours in Vietnam, and was awarded the bronze star. Since 1998, John has been a guest lecturer in the Vietnam War class taught by Dr. Andrew Wiest at the University of Southern Mississippi at Hattiesburg. John made several trips to Vietnam with the students of Southern Miss.

An avid reader and a gifted photographer, John took pictures for many years of youth sports in Picayune. John was a loving father, brother, and friend to many, who will be truly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Funeral service will be held Tuesday, August 29, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at McDonald Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be Monday, August 28, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at McDonald Funeral Home. Burial will be at New Palestine Cemetery under the direction of McDonald Funeral Home.

Obituary, register book, and driving directions can be found at www.mcdonaldfh.com.