Gordon Arnold DeYoung

Gordon Arnold DeYoung of Edina passed away on February 22, 2025, at age 93. Gordy was born February 7, 1932, in Lynden, Washington, the son of Dowe and Johanna (Breen) DeYoung. He grew up in various places around Washington state before his family settled in Sumas, Washington, where Gordy spent his teenage years, graduating from nearby Nooksack High School. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1952 and served for nearly six years. Stationed at Fairchild AFB in Spokane as a crew member of the reconnaissance version of the B-36, he reenlisted to spend his last year stationed in Japan flying in B-29 and B-50 aircraft. After returning to civilian life, he started working in Boeing airplane-manufacturing plants in the Seattle area and soon met the love of his life and wife-to-be, Carol Thuesen, who was his sister Arlyn’s roommate. They were married August 19, 1961, in Fredsville Lutheran Church near Dike, Iowa.

Gordy achieved a degree in mathematics at what is now Western Washington University in Bellingham. He tried his hand at teaching junior high before going back to Boeing and starting his career in computer programming, which continued until retirement.

The couple’s three sons were born in Washington state, but the family left the Seattle area after Boeing laid off thousands during a downturn in 1970. They moved to Carol’s hometown of Dike for a time while Gordy looked for work, which he found with the city of Chicago. After several years in Chicago, the family moved to Minnesota in 1978, when Gordy landed a position at Hennepin County that he held for over 20 years to retirement.

Gordy loved and took great pride in his family, setting a perfect example of being a father and husband for his sons to emulate. He was an excellent handyman; his biggest accomplishment was turning an empty attic and dungy basement in a Chicago fixer-upper into two comfortable bedrooms and an expansive playroom for the kids. Gordy enjoyed the outdoors, volunteering at church, and travel. He and Carol led the family on many cross-country camping trips, and took many trips together after retirement. He was an involved and creative grandfather, always finding ways to make visits to their home fun for his grandchildren.

Gordy was known for his upbeat and friendly disposition with a sly sense of humor, even as he suffered from blindness and memory loss in the last years of his life.

He is survived by sons Dirk (Sarah Parsons) of Minneapolis, Todd (Stacey) of Greenville, S.C., and Eric (Lynn Schuster) of Minneapolis; grandchildren Malone, Wyatt, Arianna, Noah and Will; brothers Evert and Jim (Alice Falter) DeYoung; sister Arlyn Lyons; sisters-in-law Jeanne Thuesen and Mary Thuesen; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Carol, and brother Duray.

Memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 29, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Edina with visitation at 10 a.m. Lunch will follow the service.

Memorials preferred to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 500 Blake Road S., Edina, MN 55343.