Bill Young - the Lumberjack - (Rest In Peace)

[mowog1]

EDIT - Bill passed away the night of 3/10/14, at home, with Jenny by his side.
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Please keep Bill in your thoughts. He has taken a turn for the worse and was hospitalized late last week. He was anticipated to be released to Hospice Care this week.

Attached is a picture of P.J.Lenihan and Bill (right) during P.J.'s visit in October 2013.

Also attached is a picture of Bill taken at the racetrack during BritishV8 2013, which he coordinated.

And one last one of him sporting his new Spurious t-shirt.

[Billava]

Just read this:
http://www.mgexp.com/phorum/read.php?3,2627792
Damn

[DiDueColpi]

It's a tough loss for us.
But he's free now.
Hopefully with the top down and his foot to the floor.

Fred

[kstevusa]

Godspeed Bill,  we will miss you.    No one could do "CURB SERVICE" like Bill!

[Dan B]

Good times with Bill.  Roadmaster weekend at Mantell Motorsports.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Great photo. We'll miss 'em.

Jim

[mowog1]

I hate to read this type of information online, so I called Jenny about 3:00pm this afternoon to confirm.

She said Bill fought a great fight, but just could not catch his breath anymore.

She took him to the hospital where he talked with his physician....who finally convinced Bill that yes, this was indeed going to happen ( which he still denied); did he want to be admitted to the hospital or go home with pallative care.

Obviously Bill chose to go home, as most of us would. Jenny said that he had "an interesting" ambulance ride home....and the attendants remarked that "he was quite a guy".

He did not last too long, but Jenny does not feel that he suffered.

She had just gotten back from the funeral home when I called.

It was his wish to be cremated; there will be a memorial service held at a later date.

Jenny will then take Bill to Oklahoma where his ashes will be buried along side his parents.

I miss him already.

Rest In Peace my friend.

[mowog1]

For Bill....please sing along if you know the words (and who doesn't?!).........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZa26_esLBE

[74ls1tr6]

Rest in peace Bill.

I only knew Bill from online websites abroad. Bill was or always had a good answer for a problem that most had, or would be first to post a fix (knowledge Bill never lacked). Brenda and I had the privilege to meet Bill at British V8 2012 in Texas. I remembered Bill by his infectious laugh.

Brenda and I really got to know Bill & Jenny at British V8 2013 in Omaha. We spent a lot of time with him setting stuff up at the meet. It was a meet we will never forget.

What a laugh!! You will be missed Bill (Lumberjack)

Calvin & Brenda

[DonB]

Got the call from Jenny today.... saddened but not surprised. Not that long ago, Bill & Jenny met Sandy and me for brunch when they returned to KC to work on the sale of his house. He was absolutely committed to fighting the cancer and reported slow but steady gains. Again he fought till his last day and never gave up!

We shared many times, and many laughs.... who can ever forget his booming explosions of real joy?

We grew even closer when he joined our MG Warrior project... and was a proud vet himself. I'll miss him, as so many others will as well. They only made on of him... and I'm proud to have been his friend.
Don B.
 Here's a couple of Pics of our day at the track in Indy.

[mowog1]

If you would like to send Jenny a sympathy card, please send me a PM for her address.

[britcars]

So sorry to hear this.  I met Bill at Durham and Indy.  Instantly likeable man, always ready for a smile and laugh, comment or suggestion.  He will be missed.  Prayers for Jenny and family.

[TR6-6SPD]

Bill was always a pretty infectious guy. I think organising the 2013 British V8 meet in Omaha with Bill and Don was a good thing for him. His enthusiasm was unending.
Thanks Bill.

[mgbreis]

What a bummer. I will always remember Bill and the tour guide at the Smith Collection in Lincoln -  it was hard to tell who actually knew more about the stuff in the museum!

[lawnvett]

When I first met Bill (aka Lumberjack), he treated me like we had been buddies forever.

I was a newbie to the engine swap scene and he made me feel welcome.

Knowing Bill has helped me to be aware of unfamiliar faces a British car events, and to reach out my hand and say hello.


Bill had recently acquired this Jag when I visited him in Oct. 2013.  He was excited about getting his strength back in order to work on his cars.

[Moderator]

PJ wrote: "When I first met Bill, he treated me like we had been buddies forever...  Knowing Bill has helped me to be aware of unfamiliar faces a British car events, and to reach out my hand and say hello."

Those words ring so true.  In times like these, I'm not very good at celebrating life. It really stings to lose favorite people. But clearly, Bill set a fantastic example for us all.

[Moderator]

<a href="http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansascity/obituary.aspx?n=william-a-young-bill&pid=170152264&fhid=6078">Obituary, as it appeared in the Kansas City Star</a>

[mowog1]

Thank you for sharing, Curtis. I shared the obit link with the MGE Midget Forum, the MGE Engine Swap Forum, and with the Spurious MG and V8 Club.

I encourage you ALL to look at the obit link and post something for Jenny.

[lawnvett]

Post done to obit

[mowog1]

re: The avatar the Bill used on a couple of Bulletin Boards and his Spurious moniker "Lumberjack".

Bill is a member of the Spurious V8 and MG Club...and many of you know of the BADASS Roadmaster that most of us helped in making a concept become a reality.

Bill and several other members were here in Central Illinois for a Roadmaster Work Weekend a couple of years ago. We were at Pete Mantell's shoppe.

One of Pete's sons (Kenny) took a look at Bill (who was wearing a plaid flannel shirt and a stocking cap at the time) and stated that "He looks like a lumberjack!"

And from that point on, we all referred to Bill as "The Lumberjack"...the avatar is from a Monty Python skit of years ago....but that's OK!


He's a lumberjack, and he's OK!


Bill's avatar

Now let's all sing along!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZa26_esLBE

[MGBV8]

Post done to obit

Same here.

Our lives are richer for having gotten to know Bill & spend time with him over the years. I'm so happy that he was able to stay well long enough to host the Omaha Meet.  He spent much time, effort & money to insure that we had a great time. As I told others, it meant a lot to him to host a fantastic British V8 Meet for us.

There will be a large void in future events without our big, smilin' Lumberjack.

[63BlueMGB]

To revisit what PJ and Curtis wrote:

I received this PM from Bill Young as I was starting my build. I never got a chance to meet him in person and never a chance to thank him personally for the warm and inviting welcome. I sadded to hear about losing him to the V8 community, He is someone who we could all learn something from, His Character is attest to who this man was. It always seems the good ones are taken too soon. I am posting what Bill PM me, it is an example we as a community should all live by and as a community we should all reach back to one and another. I am sadded that I never got that chance.

"I've seen your posts and keep wondering who you are. I thought I knew all the folks in the KC British car scene but I guess not. We have a good group of guys here with conversions but always want to meet new folks that like high performance British cars. I'm Bill Young from south KC, MO. I've been active in the KC British car scend for the past 16 years or so I belong to the KCMG Car Club, the Midwest MGA club, have been a member of the KC All British Car and Cycle show committee for 14 years or so, and also a member of this group of fanatics! I have a V6 powered MG Midget, an inline 6 powered MGA under construction, a 73 Lotus Europa, and just aquired a glass MG TD body for a future project. Only the Lotus is basically original, the rest are or will be hot rods. I'd like to meet you, buy you a beer or something some day and talk cars."

[Phillip G]

Goodnight, Bill,

I'm going to really miss you.

Everyone that met you are really going to miss you.

All the great mods we  made together on my race car were very difficult  improvements that you made possible. Suddenly appearing - with a new set of scales -  you, out-of-the-blue, transformed  the balance of the car.  

No way I can ever say thank you enough for getting to work with you on the many mods we made together on the RV8.

keep them on the track,

phillip g

[mowog1]

Bill's memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 17th.

Time and place (inthe Kansas City area)  to be announced .

Save the date!