Obituary of John Russell

RUSSELL: Early in the morning on December 29, 2017, John Russell passed away at Brandon Regional Health Centre with family by his side. He had experienced a number of health issues in recent years, but he had a massive stroke that evening. Left to mourn his passing and celebrate his life are his wife of 54 years, Shirley (née Hamilton), his children Colin (Alice), Naomi (Jeff Green), and Hugh (Craig Terry), grandchildren Cameron, Kayleigh, and Ella Russell, sister Edith Ann Walker (Robert), brother Alec or Sandy (Marilyn), Aunt Merle Trewin, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Jack and Alice Russell. John was born in Hamiota in 1935, and enjoyed a youth of great success on the baseball field and the hockey rink. He attended Normal School and began teaching in Kenton before moving to Rivers in 1958. There he taught for 35 years, and was vice-principal at Rivers Collegiate for the last several years. John was very active in the community with Rivers United Church; as a town Councillor; as a member of the Hospital Board, Masonic Lodge, and Kiwanis; and as a baseball coach. He took great pride in being inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame with the 1964-69 Rivers Comets. Always a home handyman, he built a woodworking shop in his retirement years and enjoyed producing toys, bird houses, and furniture. He enjoyed gardening, golfing, and curling until his health curtailed those activities. John loved catching up on the activities of his children and grandchildren and encouraging them in their scholastic, musical, and athletic pursuits. A Celebration of John's life will be held at Rivers United Church, on Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. Donations in memory of John may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Unit 3-2430 Victoria Avenue, Brandon, MB, R7B 0M5; Rivers and Area Community Foundation Inc., Box 714, Rivers, MB, R0K 1X0, or a Charity of choice.