Raymond Austin Young, 77 of East Dubuque, IL passed away on March 16, 2023, at the University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City, IA. A celebration of life will be held at 4 PM, Saturday, April 29, 2023, at the Galena Bible Church, Galena, IL. Military honors will be accorded following the service at the church by Galena VFW Post #2665 and American Legion Post #193. The burial will be at a later date. The Furlong Funeral Chapel, Galena is assisting the family. He was born July 7, 1945, in Chapel Hill, TN, the son of William and Mary (Walls) Young. Ray received a GED in the army and spent a few years at Harper Community College. He was drafted in 1966 and served in the United States Army Signal Corps serving as a Sergeant until his honorable discharge in 1968. Ray married Joan Elizabeth Monroe on July 2, 1966, at Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago she preceded him in death on April 8, 2019. Ray worked in the printing industry until he retired in the early 2000s and moved to Galena. He worked at Gasser Hardware, Galena for a couple of years. Ray will fondly be remembered first and foremost as a family man; Dad instilled the motto “You do for family”. He was an avid professional wrestling fan. Ray was “Mr. Fixit” and could fix anything. He always had a hat on whether that was a cowboy hat in the 80s or a Harley Davidson beret. Ray is survived by his three children, Wendi Young-Watkins, and James Peter “JP” Young, both of East Dubuque, IL, and Raymond A. (Chris) Young, of Wausau WI, three granddaughters, Brittany Young, of Okinawa, Japan, Lily (Trevor) Young-Konkel of Wausau, and Abigail (Maddy) Young of Wausau, one brother Larry (Johnia) Young, of Bensenville IL and his many nieces, nephews and extended family both in Chicago and Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, six brothers and sisters, Bud, Molly, Jolly, Polly, Nancy, and Peggy. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to East Dubuque Fire and Rescue, the staff at Mercy One Hospital Dubuque and the University of Iowa Hospital, Medical ICU, Dr.s Sanchez and Lynn, and all his nurses, Alissa, Cami, Maddie, and Josie. You took such amazing care of Dad and our family.