Obituary of Charlotte S. Young

Charlotte Young, 88, of North Liberty, Iowa passed away Friday, September 17, 2021, surrounded by love. A celebration of Charlotte’s life will be held at 3pm Thursday, September 23, 2021, at the First United Methodist Church in North Liberty; masks are required in the building. A private burial will be held at the Ridgewood Cemetery in North Liberty. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to support the First United Methodist Church of North Liberty, Johnson County 4-H programs, North Liberty Community Pantry, Bird House Hospice Home of Johnson County, and Iowa City Hospice. Memorials may be sent to P.O. Box 156, North Liberty, Iowa 52317. To share a thought, memory or condolence with her family please visit the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com. Charlotte was born December 10, 1932, at the home of her parents, Charles and Doris (Maxwell) Strothman in rural New London. The third of six children, there was always lots of activity on the farm. She enjoyed telling stories of her childhood; daily life on their farm was full of chores, working together with her brothers and sisters, riding horses, and the close community of family and neighbors. She enjoyed being involved in 4-H, showing cattle at the county and state fair, as well as numerous home economics projects. She graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1950 and from Iowa State College in 1954 with a B.S. in Home Economics Education. At Iowa State, she sang and toured with the Iowa State Singers, was the ISU Homecoming Attendant in 1953, and met her husband Wilbur on a blind date. In 1954 she married Wilbur Young and moved to the family farm in rural North Liberty, where she also began working for Iowa State University Extension in Cedar County. In 1964 she started working in Cedar and Johnson Counties, later that same year becoming the ISU Consumer and Management Specialist at the Area Office in Cedar Rapids, IA. She received her M.A. in Adult Education at the University of Iowa in 1969. During her career she served on several boards and organizations and was often a county and state 4-H fair judge. She was the President of the National Association of Extension Home Economists in 1983-1984; President of the Iowa State University Extension Association in 1976; and President of the Consumer Bureau of the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce in 1978-1980. She was also a member of the High School Financial Planning Program, Cedar Rapids Gazette Cookoffs, and NAEHE Public Policy Workshops for State Home Economist Presidents. She received many awards, including the ISU Extension Educator Award and the NAEHE Outstanding Home Economist Award. Many in Eastern Iowa will remember Charlotte best for her consumer management tips featured on KCRG, KGAN, and WMT radio and TV, until her retirement in 1995. In retirement she was active in the North Liberty Methodist Church, Optimist Club, Community Pantry, and Whip-poor-will Club, and enjoyed managing and caring for the family farms. Charlotte loved her family, attending 4-H, music, and athletic activities of her grandchildren, and visiting with great-grandchildren. Charlotte is survived by her children, Michael Young (Linda), Barbara Meade, and Kay Mohling (Gene); grandchildren, Justin Young, Brandon Young, Rachel Meade, Katherine Ciecior, Caroline Litterer, and Nicholas Mohling; eight great-grandchildren; sisters, Carol Messer, Charlene Larson (Randy); brother, John Strothman; sister-in-law, Marilyn Strothman and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wilbur; brother, Max Strothman and his wife Jeanne; brother, Fred Strothman; sister-in-law, Jerry Strothman; and brother-in-law, Emmett Messer. Charlotte’s family would like to share their deepest gratitude for everyone at the Bird House, Hospice Home of Johnson County for their very loving and professional care of Charlotte while she resided there. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City is caring for Charlotte’s family and her services.