Kathleen L. Young
Kathleen Louise Young was born on December 8th, 1931 to J.D. and Myrtle (Fallbeck) Young as the oldest of three children. She passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 22, 2022.
Major influences on her childhood and early adult life were her strongly scientific-minded father, her plant and garden loving mother and the companionship with John Neihardt who lived at her parents’ house during the last 10 years of his life. She herself was able to combine the principles of scientific and evidence-based investigations with an unwavering love and deep respect for all things plants and then was able to put her knowledge and teachings to paper rather well.
Starting her own family at a very young age, she married Lloyd Hinkley and had four sons, Gary, David, and Ron, and Kim, adopted from Korea when Gary was only 2 years old. It was surely not easy to keep four growing sons and a husband fed and it was probably at that time that she got very creative about cooking, including using wild game the boys brought home.
She graduated from UNL with a bachelor’s degree in English and Botany and then moved on to do a Master’s degree in Intercultural Studies and Folklore, inspired by Roger Welsch, himself a Folklorist of the funny sort!
What a full professional life she had! She worked at UNL’s Morrill Hall, as a Naturalist in Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue, as a folklorist for the State Historical Society, and, for a short time, as the Assistant Director of the San Bernardino Co Museum in California, before she came back to Lincoln. One of her proudest moments was the publishing of her book “Wild Seasons”, a cookbook using native plants from Nebraska. She enjoyed great respect from her peers in the fields of botany and ethnobotany and often gave presentations and seminars about her favorite subjects of plants and how to use them to adults and children alike. She liberally used her own children and grandchildren as guinea pigs for new recipes – and everybody was happy to oblige.
She was a lifelong loving advocate for all things nature. Her legacy will live on in the many plants she raised and gave away to so many people, and in the knowledge about wild plants that she willingly shared with anybody interested. Her deep respect and cultural understanding of Native Americans, borne from her friendship with Mr. Foolbull, a Lakota medicine man, adds to the many facets that made up her life. Her gentle hand will be greatly missed by many.
She is survived by her four sons Kim (Michelle), Gary (Susanne), David (Judy) and Ron (Toni), and many grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
A Celebration of Life of Kay Young will be held on June 11 at the Pioneers Park Nature Center in Lincoln, from 9am to 4pm. It will be a potluck and dishes made using recipes from her book ‘Wild Seasons’ would be very appropriate and appreciated. Drinks and some snacks will be provided.
To leave a condolence please use the form below.
Funeral Home assisting is Aspen Mortuary, 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. To view an on-line obituary or email condolences please visit Aspen Mortuary’s website at www.aspenaftercare.com.
Condolences for Kathleen L. Young
Thinking of you all! She will be greatly missed!
I loved her like a mother. She was a special person. She understood the world in a way most people don’t. I am so glad we got to share part of our time together and cherish our conversations over the phone and in person.
David Weeks, MD, PharmD, FACP
Austin,TX
Thank you for this opportunity to remember “Cousin Kay” as my dad, Franklin Young Christensen, called her fondly. We knew her best when we lived near by in Lincoln and would visit Uncle J.D. and Aunt Myrtle with Kay bringing her boys to entertain us. I remember her then as animated and motivated to share her interests. I appreciated her drive later on, as she would drop into our lives throughout her career that now seems so on target for what we now need to keep in the forefront as “urban dwellers” caring for natural resources. I appreciate her veneration for John Neihardt and his dedication to Native American heritage and culture. Cousin Kay was a life long learner. I thank God for her peaceful homegoing where eternity promises 10,000+ years of discovery of all the Lord has done and will do.
Such an inspiring life, so nicely summarized here. It was a privilege to know Cousin Kay. Luckily, she pulled my wife and I into her orbit a few years ago; not too late for us to benefit immensely. Did she ever tell you, “Always remember that I love you.”? She said that to us more than once. I bet she said it to some of you, too. And I believe she did love all of us!
Kay was special lady & her mom was like a second mom to me when my childen were born. I do have one of her book. Will missed her!
We feel so blessed to have known “Cousin” Kay. Her upbeat outlook and her appreciation of nature will be dearly missed.
Cousin Kay was such a blessing in our families life. She will be missed. Our love and condolences to the family.