Dr. Alwin C. H. Young

Dr. Alwin C.H. Young age 86 of Bloomington / Minneapolis / Woodbury.

Preceded in death by his loving wife, Dr. So Lian Tio; parents, Meei Chih Lee Yang and Cho Pi Yang; sisters, Cheu Huei, Shu Huei, Hua Huei and an infant brother.

Survived by daughter, Shannon Young; son, Andrew Young; sisters, Meei Huei, Chiou Huei; brothers, David, Randolph and Gabriel Yang; adoptive daughters, Jenny Lai, Mue Yamthongkam, and adoptive granddaughters Samantha, Lisa, and Lizzie Yamthongkam; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Yang Chang Hsin (Alwin) was born in Chushan, Taiwan on June 25th 1935, under Japanese occupation. He spent part of his primary school years in Osaka, Japan until the end of WWII, when he returned to Taiwan. He went to Taichung Yichung secondary school in Taichung, and attended National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, where he studied Engineering. He then traveled to the United States to attend graduate school at University of Missouri Rolla, and then to the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory at the University of Minnesota for his PhD in Hydraulic Engineering.

He met his wife So Lian on a trip to New York, and they married on September 30, 1978, and moved to Bloomington, Minnesota. After getting his PhD, he worked for Barr Engineering, and then the National Weather Service (NOAA) as a flood forecaster, where he oversaw the Red River Valley watershed. His daughter Shannon was born in 1980, followed by his son Andrew in 1982. He worked for the National Weather Service for over 28 years until his retirement in 2009.

Alwin was extremely generous with his time, knowledge, skills, and care for those around him. He always wanted to be of service, listening and remembering people’s worries, and wondering what he could offer financially or practically. When first emigrating to the US in the 60s, on an international graduate student budget, he made sure to call his cousins and brothers to make sure that they were taken care of. While he grew up in a large extended family with various aunts, uncles, and cousins, he made sure that all his nieces and nephews that came to the States knew that his house was open to them and that he was there for them.

Alwin loved languages, and was fluent and literate in Taiwanese, Japanese, Mandarin, and English. He kept up with his Japanese through his entire life, reading books in Japanese and getting compliments when he’d talk to native speakers. He valued his intelligence and loved to read in all of his languages, immersing himself in books, newspapers, and magazines. He was also a fantastic cook, inviting his friends over for lavish, multi-course meals, or tempting the neighborhood with the smell of his BBQ. He loved to eat. He’d take his time with meals, appreciating the flavors and textures. He made lasting friendships with the owners of his favorite restaurants, and they would always recognize him and come over to talk when he ate there. Even when he could no longer cook, he would still read through cookbooks to get ideas for meals and invite people to eat at his favorite restaurants.

He also was deeply interested in traditional Chinese medicine and Tui Na acupressure, learning from his good friend Dr. Denis Chang, as well as many books that he read in Chinese. He was very observant of the people around him– he would notice if a person’s face was asymmetrical or if they were walking or holding their body in an unusual way, then ask a question like, does your knee hurt? Then he would offer an acupressure massage which would balance the body.

He also adored children and animals. His face would light up when was around babies or young creatures. He would make eye contact and wave or make funny faces and they would always respond by lighting up in return.

Alwin was observant and reflective. He also knew how to have fun. He would get a twinkle in his eye and be ready with a joke. He would often carry around a Taiwanese ocarina or finger puppets that he got in Peru, and would be happy to show them off to anyone he met.

He was loved and well remembered by everyone he interacted with, from his neighbors at St. Therese and Legacy of St. Anthony, to the PCAs, care staff, and dining staff.

He will be missed and remembered.

If you’d like to make a donation in honor of his life, please donate to:

St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (please specify in honor of Alwin Young, we are planning to start a fellowship in his name) https://cse.umn.edu/safl/give or Noki’s MN - Indigenous art, culture, and food organization http://nokismn.org/.

If you have photos, audio/video recordings, stories, or memories you'd like to share with his children and loved ones, please email them to TioYoungMemorial@gmail.com .

Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 AM Tuesday, April 26 at the Church of St. Augustine, 408 3rd Street North, South St. Paul.  Interment Resurrection Cemetery, Mendota Heights.  Visitation 5:00 - 8:00 PM Monday, April 25 at Gearty-Delmore Robbinsdale Chapel, 3888 W. Broadway, Robbinsdale and one hour prior to the Mass at the church.

The family requests that masks be worn while inside of the buildings during the visitation and Mass.

To view the video recording of  Alwin's Mass you may click the following link https://online.brushfire.com/dts/geartydelmorefuneralchapels/dq9dt8rf3v or by clicking the "Please click here to view video tribute" tab below the obituary.