Born April 2, 1931, he was a son of the late Joseph P. and Alice M. Lindsay Russell, and step-mother, Dorothy Croyle. As a youth he lived and attended school in Brighton Twp. Joe went on to serve proudly in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, hauling ammunition and fuel to the front lines in his Army truck. He formed a passion for driving and after returning home in 1953, began a long career as a professional truck driver, owning both his own trucks and driving for others.
In his spare time, Joe loved to camp and boat, eat ice cream, play music and swap tall stories with anyone who would listen. He especially loved food, as long as it was roast beef, mashed potatoes and green beans. He and Martha enjoyed spending their winters in Haines City, Florida, where they met, loved and lost many dear friends there. Known as the Music Man, he would take daily rides around the mobile home park, blasting out country music from his golf cart, waving and greeting everyone along the way. He looked forward to the Sunday night jam-fest, where local musicians would get together and entertain the residents in the park’s rec hall.
Joe will be greatly missed by his wife of 68 years, Martha Funkhouser-Russell and his 4 children Ray (Susan) Russell, Darla (Tom) Freed, Karen (Eric) Momberger and Gary (Patty) Russell, as well as 4 grandchildren, Julie (Brian) Burns, Lindsay (Brian) Dollard, Nathaniel (Ellis) Freed and Michael Russell, and 3 great-grandchildren, Jackson Burns and twins Joseph and Lucy Dollard.
He is survived by siblings Cynthia ‘Peg’ Schweinsberg, New Brighton, George (Marlene) Russell, Chester, WV and Janet Hill, South Heights; along with numerous loving nieces and nephews from across the United States. Along with his parents and step-mother, he was preceded in death by his sisters Virginia Hawkins and Beverly Russell.
We all will miss his quick smile, his adventurous spirit, his gregarious laugh and those chest-crushing bear-hugs he was always quick to dole out to anyone within reach. Like Will Rogers, he never met a person he didn’t like. We all wish him Godspeed on this next journey.
Friends will be received Thursday, July 25, 2024, from 10 a.m. until time of service at 11 a.m. at the SAUL-GABAUER FUNERAL HOME, INC., 273 Route 68, Rochester (adjacent to the Sylvania Hills Memorial Park Mausoleum).
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