Robert Yao-Jou Young

Robert Yao-Jou Young age 60 of Wayzata passed away December 19, 2021 at 12:17pm surrounded by his loving family. Preceded in death by his father, Young Wen Hwa. 

Robert was born in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan and he immigrated to the United States in 1985 after meeting his life partner and soulmate, Elisabeth (Beth) in Taipei. Fueled with love and determination they built their life together and raised their three children in Minnesota.

In his early adulthood, Robert served 2 years in the Taiwan Marine Corps in the Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit, nicknamed “Frogman”. He earned his Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Minnesota and had recently retired after a career in global food science research and development working for Pillsbury, General Mills and a number of privately owned companies in the food industry. Robert was known for solving all manner of food commercialization and productization issues and successfully brought many new food products to market. He developed strong professional bonds with coworkers and customers as he worked in labs, production facilities and customer sites across the US, Europe and Asia, including a two-year assignment in Shanghai, China. This year he and Beth fulfilled a life-long dream of starting their own business servicing the community they built their life in, and together opened Ace Handyman Services Minnetonka.

Robert was a renaissance man, talented in a wide array of sports and arts. He was a passionate Olympic-style archer and fly fisherman. He trained in the modern Japanese martial art of Kendo, enjoyed the outdoors and loved riding bicycles and motorcycles. He was also a self-taught musician, proficient in classical and flamenco guitar, and the Chinese erhu. Robert was a gifted orator. Anyone who met him would be immediately enthralled by a story or a joke. He loved to share his many skills and passions with all and was a teacher and coach to his family and friends.

Robert’s deepest passion was for his family. Every sacrifice and compromise he made was to ensure his children could reach their fullest potential and to give them every opportunity for community, love, and success. 

Robert is survived by a loving wife of 36 years, Beth; mother, Hsu Chien Jir; children, Rachel & husband Carl, Amy, and Kevin; and extended relations and friends in both Taiwan and around the US.  Funeral service Tuesday, December 28, 2021 11:00am at All Saints Lutheran Church 15915 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345. Visitation one hour prior to service and also Monday December 27, 2021 5:00 - 7:00pm at David Lee Funeral Home, 1220 Wayzata Blvd E, Wayzata, MN 55391. The family requests that all attendees wear masks and social distance at both events. Interment Lakewood Cemetery Garden Mausoleum. The service can be viewed live virtually at https://youtu.be/HAl9j15DHyM

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS contributions in Robert’s memory may be made to the Mayo Clinic COVID-19 Clinical Research Fund https://philanthropy.mayoclinic.org/covid19 or to the University of Minnesota Foundation https://give.umn.edu/

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