Tommy "Thud" Gene Young

Tommy “Thud” Gene Young, the son of Gene and JoAnn Mae (Harter) Young, was born March 27, 1959, in Atlantic, Iowa and died November 2, 2019, in a motorcycle accident at the age of 60 years, 7 months, and 5 days.

JoAnn and Gary married on November 6, 1966, and Gary raised the children as his own. Tommy was baptized at the Brayton Lutheran Church in Brayton, Iowa. He attended school in Griswold, Iowa and later in the Exira Community Schools. Tommy worked for Henningsen Construction in Atlantic, Iowa for several years. He then was employed at Bob Landon Construction for a few years. Tommy adventured on his own to California, Colorado, and later Arizona. He worked for various construction companies along the way, returning to Exira where he established his own concrete construction company, Tom Young Concrete, which has operated for more than 16 years.

Tommy enjoyed hunting, fishing, and socializing with his many friends. But his greatest passion was riding his motorcycle. Tommy enjoyed long rides and embarked on a 10-state ride with his love Jenny right with him. He also participated in many poker runs over the years. Tommy never met a stranger who didn’t become a friend, and his hugs were contagious.

Preceding him in death were his parents JoAnn and Gary Hulsebus and Gene Young and his father-in-law Gene Andreasen.

Survivors include his fiancée, Jenny Hacker of Audubon, Iowa; Jenny’s children Kanion Hacker and friend Jon of Indianola, Iowa; and Lake Hacker and friend Mary of Ames, Iowa; Tommy’s children: Cody Gordon and fiancée Kayla and their children Carter and Avery of Des Moines, Iowa; Tyler Burton and her children Garrett and Levi, Jaime Burton and her children Mia and Madelyn, and Brandon Burton and friend Alexandra and their son Michael, all of Mesa, Arizona; his brothers and sister: Monty and wife Annette Young and Shon and wife Mary Young all of Atlantic; and Tracey and husband Trent Pickett of Wichita, Kansas; his mother-in-law Judy and husband Steve Bishop of Carroll, Iowa; his brothers-in-law Monty Andreasen of Peterson, Iowa; Neil Andreasen of Hamlin, Iowa; and Dave and Jo Andreasen of Audubon; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.

The family will meet with friends Friday, November 8, 2019, from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Ben Unseth on Saturday morning, November 9, 2019, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Oakfield Cemetery east of Brayton, Iowa. The honorary casket bearers will be Ben Simpson, Jeff Roberts, John Powell, Jedd Bengard, Jessie Archibald, Harry Rustvold, Wynn Flathers, Doug Hilsabeck, Bill Welter, Terry “TAT” Thygesen, Brad Sporer, Brian Sporer, Jodie and Rick Pettit, all his fellow bikers and great friends, and all his nieces and nephews. The casket bearers will be Tommy Simpson, Blake Butcher, Fred Muhr, Shane Jorgensen, Steve Andersen, Marty Juelsgaard, Tom Muhr, and Johann Vesper.