Richard Arden Young Sr

Richard Arden Young Sr., 88 of Manitowoc, Wis., died peacefully at home on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

Richard was born on January 2, 1938, in Milwaukee, Wis., and was raised on a family farm in Almond, Wis. He graduated from Almond High School and married Gloria Elberta George in 1956 (divorced 1977). After serving in the U.S. Air Force, Richard and his family moved to New Mexico where he opened a HVAC business, specializing in installing residential and commercial heating and cooling equipment.

In 1966, Richard brought his family back to Milwaukee and worked as a refrigeration technician for Miller Brewing Company. Ten years later, he moved to Manitowoc and worked for Schaus Heating, Cooling & Ventilating Services before opening Young & Karbon Refrigeration (1979-1987).

Richard is best known as a master ship modeler and woodcarver who was associated with the Manitowoc Maritime Museum (now Wisconsin Maritime Museum) from 1968-1989. During that time, he served on the Board of Trustees and as its president and spent three years building commissions as the museum’s resident ship modeler. The museum has 12 of his scratch-built scale models on display.

Richard also was co-founder and director of the Midwestern Model Ships & Boats Contest and Display, the longest running, museum-affiliated, juried competition exclusively for ship models in the nation. In 1985, the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, Wis., named him the Wisconsin Craftsman of the Year.

In 1989, Richard struck out on his own again and opened Young’s Model Shipyard. By 2004, he had scratch-built 17 commissions, bringing his total number of models to 34. After Richard retired, he became an active member of the Kettle Karvers of Manitowoc and the Mid-Wisconsin Chippers of Appleton. He competed in woodcarving competitions throughout the Midwest and won countless blue ribbons in Midwest and national competitions. He taught carving classes at the Manitowoc Senior Center for many years and provided carving demonstrations during carving shows and at Pinecrest Historical Village in Manitowoc. The Kohler Foundation partnered with the Rahr-West Art Museum in Manitowoc to preserve and exhibit his collective work.

Richard loved polka dancing and was often the first on the dance floor and the last to leave. He had a beautiful tenor voice and enjoyed singing with the Silver Memories group at senior centers throughout Manitowoc County.

Richard is survived by his children Cynthia (Bob Iraci), Laurinda (Scott Jones, divorced), Valerie (Will Riney), and Richard Arden (Susan Steinke); sister: Verona (Young) Morgan; brother: David (Mary Lou Farmer) Young; four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; and his significant other of fourteen years, Virginia Temme.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents: Leland Stanford and Hazel Anna (Irasek) Young; son Danial Young; brother Ronald Leland Young; and granddaughter, April Young.

A celebration of life will be held in Manitowoc, Wisconsin at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direction of CZ Boyer & Son Funeral Homes - Wilson Chapel in Fredericktown, Missouri.