John R. "Bert" Russie

John Robert Russie, age 96, went to be with his Lord at 12:45 am, Tuesday April 2, 2024. His funeral service will be on Wednesday, April 24th at 10:00 a.m. at Young's Funeral Home in Tigard. Lunch will follow from 11:00 - 12:00 at Young's (sandwiches, chips, cookies, etc. His interment at Willamette National Cemetery will follow and is scheduled from 2:30 - 3:00 PM. This will be a brief service with taps, honor guard, and the 21-gun salute.

John Robert Russie, nickname Bert, was born, at home, to Lester and Florence Russie on January 6, 1928, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of 6, three boys and three girls. While John was a toddler, his father passed away, and the family was split up. John and his next older brother, Les, went to live with their father’s sister, Adele. In high school he enjoyed photography classes and fencing. He also took woodworking classes, skills he used throughout his life.

During the war years, before enlisting, he worked for the post office. He took the Bud Cars (high speed rail) from Penfield to Brookline. He picked up the mail in Brookline then returned to Penfield to deliver mail in his neighborhood. The route was twice a day back then. While working for the post office another carrier taught him how to drive a mail truck.

When he turned 18, he signed up with the Marine Corps. His basic training was at Paris Island. He was stationed in Guam, where he worked in the transportation division driving trucks. He got that job because of his experience driving for the post office.

After his discharge, John attended Robert Wesleyan Bible College in Rochester, NY. It was there he met the love of his life, Alice Marie Smith. The two were joined in matrimony by Alice’s father in Rochester, New York, April 8, 1950. The couple celebrated 71 years of marriage in April 2021. Alice and John set up housekeeping in Philadelphia, PA, where they started their family: Dorothy Adele followed by Dona LaRayne, then son Daniel Allen was born in Pawtucket, RI.

His first job after moving to California with his wife and 3 children, was Office Manager at a chili pepper farm. One day, when he was in the process of buying a house, the bank called his workplace for references. John answered the phone and provided himself with very good references (the bank never asked who they were speaking with).

John worked in transportation driving trolly cars and buses in Philadelphia, California, and Arizona until he retired. He drove city transit, charter buses and school buses. He received many safety awards for years of safe driving.

He loved driving charter buses the most because he was able to meet people from all over the world. He would entertain his family by sharing his stories of his experiences with his family. While living in Houston, Texas, he worked for Dresser Enterprises as a supervisor of security.

After retiring, John and Alice hit the road in an RV; they put their belongings into storage and traveled around the United States for three years. They were great travel partners and truly enjoyed learning about the places and people that they visited.

During his last few years, his passion was being of service to the Lord. Alice had written a daily devotional, based on a compilation of personal letters and prayers John Wesley had written. John and Alice would keep several of her books and other religious materials available to hand out to others who desired them.

John spent his last three years at Canfield Place. He was so gentle, kind, and caring that anyone who came into his life appreciated him. He joined the Hymn Sing and the Bible Study groups. He made many friends among the residents in those two groups. They were fond of telling his daughters that John had such great knowledge about the Bible and the history of the hymns. It was easy to see they greatly admired and appreciated him.

The staff at Canfield cared greatly for John, especially towards the end of his life. One day, Dottie walked into the apartment to see a couple of Caregivers getting him to eat. Their attitude was one of care and concern for a well-loved favorite uncle.

He is survived by his daughters Dorothy Buss and Dona of Portland, OR; son Daniel (Brenda) of West Richland, WA; grandsons David (Becky), and Christopher (Anne); sister-in-law Ellen Burke and numerous nieces and nephews. He was the last surviving member of his siblings.

In lieu of flowers please send a donation to the Westgate Christian School Scholarship Fund, 12930 SW Scholls Ferry Rd, Tigard, OR 97223.

The Life of John Russie

A consolidation of remembrances from his children Dottie, Dona, Dan

Although Dad’s biography is pretty comprehensive, my siblings and I have additional memories we would like to share with you today.

One Christmas season during high school, John worked at Snellenburg’s Department Store, wrapping packages to be delivered to customers’ homes. During this time people rode public transportation to the stores. They did not take their purchases home with them; the store delivered them.

John’s aunt had an ice box for a refrigerator. He remembered the ice man delivering the block of ice to chill the ice box.

He also remembered storing the milk and butter outside the window in cool weather. These were the days before homogenized milk; the cream would rise to the top of the milk. John loved to scrape the cream off the top. He remembered the man who delivered coal for the furnace in the basement. Coal was used to heat the houses in his area at that time.

During the war years, people were encouraged to grow “Victory Gardens”. His brother, Les, grew a Victory Garden in their back yard. One day he noticed that the lettuce was looking ready to be picked. The next day, John and Les went out to pick the lettuce. In front of them was a row of soil, minus the lettuce! At the end of the row was a very fat and happy rabbit.

During the war years, he worked for the post office. He went to school and held a residential delivery route. Just after his 16th birthday, he noticed his name had been put on the job-board to start driving a truck. Oh, my! He didn’t have a license; he didn’t even know how to drive! He went to an older friend at work, who told him to get his learners permit and the fellow would teach him. John got his permit; the man took John with him on his delivery run and taught him to drive. John then went back to the DMV and got his license. He said the ink was barely dry on it when he went in that night to get the keys to the truck for his assignment.

When he turned 18, John signed up with the Marine Corps. During his first month of basic training at Paris Island, his platoon was assigned to KP. One day, while he was stirring a very big pot of beans, a salamander ran across the rafters. The salamander became overwhelmed by the steam rising from the pot and fell into it. It was just stirred into the beans and served.

John was stationed in Guam, where he was the assigned driver to the base commander. One thing he liked about that assignment was that he could get his uniforms laundered and pressed. He always appreciated looking smart.

After being discharged, Dad attended Robert Wesleyan Bible College in Rochester, NY. I remember Mom recalling that Dad and another new student were introduced at an assembly. She said to herself, “I want that one.” They were joined in matrimony by Alice’s father in Rochester, New York, April 8, 1950.

Alice and John set up housekeeping in Philadelphia, PA, where Dona and I were born.

Dad shared his love of photography with me when I was a toddler. He showed me how to take a picture of him with my baby sister, Dona. It was just a little blurry, not bad for my first picture. Later, we moved to Pawtucket, RI, where my brother, Daniel Allen, was born.

While living in Pawtucket, Dad worked at Shepherd’s Department Store as a carpenter. He would often do small carpentry jobs for the sales staff, which made him popular with them. They would often hold clothing for him so he could purchase them during the sales. He was pleased that this enabled him to better provide for his family.

One charter he drove was a group of Japanese businessmen, who were in America, touring various auto-painting facilities, including Earl Scheib. At lunch time, they had Dad take them through a fast-food drive-up window. After they got their food, Dad wanted more salt on his fries. He put his fries in the meal bag, poured salt on them, and shook the bag. He heard a shaking sound behind him. He turned around to see 40 smiling Japanese businessmen shaking their bags of fries.

While living in Houston, Texas, he worked for Dresser Enterprises, as a supervisor of security. One day a visitor parked in a no-parking zone, so Dad had a forklift come, pick the car up, and put it in an appropriate parking space. The visitor left at the end of the day, never realizing that his car had been moved.\

Dad loved having balloons to celebrate family member’s milestones. No occasion was too big or too small to celebrate with balloons. He and Mom bought large, elegantly beautiful balloons to decorate the reception room when I married my husband, Fred.

Dona, too, enjoyed balloons. She would bring balloons to celebrate any of John’s (and Alice’s) special occasions.

During his last few years, John’s passion was being of service to the Lord. Alice had written a daily devotional. John and Alice would keep several of these books and other religious materials available to hand out. I remember giving a devotional to one of his caregivers a week before he died. We have a few books on the tables in the back of the room for anyone who would like one.

He spent his last three years at Canfield Place. He was so gentle, kind, and caring that anyone who came into his life appreciated him. He joined the Hymn Sing and the Bible Study groups. He made many friends among the residents in those two groups.

As Dad’s health deteriorated, his friends would ask about him, and would share with me how impressed they were that dad know so much about the Bible and the old hymns.

All the staff at Canfield cared greatly for Dad, especially towards the end of his life. I will always remember everyone’s efforts to ensure his last few days were comfortable and peaceful.