Age 85, passed away peacefully in his home on June 4th surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband of 61 years to Kay (nee Surges). Cherished father of (the late) Annie, Jeanne (Jacob) Heyer, Stephen (Michelle), Karen (Mark) Schneider, Michael, Christopher, and Paula. Loving grandfather of Teresa, Shawna, Richie, Kayla, Linnea, Sheri, Rachel, Jasmine, Marisa, Jeremy, Sarah, and Alisha. Great-grandfather to Hunter, Juan "J.J.", Sunny, Kalina, and Cole. Proud U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict. Production Control Supervisor at General Motors for 34 years. A visitation will be held on Tuesday June 12th at St. Benedict the Moor, 1015 N 9th St, Milwaukee, WI 53233, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. followed by a funeral mass at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to Door County Land Trust, P.O. Box 65 Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235, are appreciated.First and foremost, Russell was a provider for his family, but his sense of family and strong moral compass reached far beyond the boundaries of our home. He spent many weekends gutting and rehabbing a Milwaukee home for a family fleeing Laos; a family who opened their hearts to us and became our own. Union men, preachers, civil rights activists, and others who worked for justice were welcome at his table. He did not shy from conflict, but did not need to seek it out to prove his manhood. Born and bred in Iowa, Russell had a quiet gentleness that was chivalrous to the end, never vulgar or crude. He spoke little but said much. Along with our mother, he cared for his daughter Annie with a steadfast love and dedication that will never be matched. Russell had a deep knowledge of nature and an abiding love for this earth, which he passed on to his children. His children and grandchildren are blessed with many memories of stargazing and camping on land that he and our mom have stewarded for over 40 years. Because of him, we know the magnificent silver sweep of the Milky Way and the sound of the wind sighing through the trees around our tents. Russell was a burly oak of a man who could fix absolutely anything electrical or mechanical. He built homes and sheds and treasure boxes for his grandchildren, seeded prairies and planted daffodils. He wrote, "To plant a tree is an act of faith; to sit in its shade is a gift." Russell sheltered and provided and protected throughout his 85 years. To sit in his shade was indeed a gift.