Forest City Gear has announced the death of Wendy Young, president and CEO.
Young, 69, died peacefully on February 22 after a tenacious battle with cancer, surrounded by her husband and three daughters. Although semi-retired for the past two years, Young has been an integral part of the company, alongside her husband, Fred Young, for nearly four decades. The Young family and the greater Forest City Gear family are grateful for the support of the industry and the community.
Wendy Joy Nutter was born October 7, 1952, in Anoka, Minnesota. She graduated from Forest Lake High School in 1970 and married Fred Young in Wisconsin in 1981. She earned her BA in economics and her MBA from Rockford University. Young was involved in the community, serving on multiple boards over the course of her lifetime, including the American Gear Manufacturers Association, Rockford Symphony Orchestra, Stateline YMCA, and as an Executive Committee Member for the Rock Valley College Foundation.
Young worked alongside her husband at Forest City Gear, the company founded by his parents in Roscoe, Illinois, and was CEO and president of the company for nearly 10 years. Young’s leadership was an integral part of the growth and expansion of the company. She was named the Individual Business Catalyst of the Year in 2021 — a prestigious award from the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. In 2022, she was selected to receive the AGMA Chairman’s Award as someone who has contributed in a meaningful way to the gear industry.
Young is survived by her husband, Fred; daughters, Appy (Rustin) Mikel, Kika (Anthony) Risa, and Mindy (Ryan Davis) Young; grandchildren, Joey, Kysa, Levi, Addy, AJ, Nollie, Clementine, Charley, Evie, and Wilder; step-grandson, Felix Davis; siblings, Lori (Roger) Brandel and Todd Nutter; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.
MORE INFO www.gracefh.com/obituaries/Wendy-Young-3/#!/Obituary
