Dr. James G. Russell, M.D.

Jim was born on May 15, 1938, in Rushville, Ill., the son of Ghlee and Eleanor (Robeson) Russell. He married Donna Parfitt on June 19, 1965, in Milwaukee, Wis. Jim is survived by Donna; his three daughters: Elizabeth “Beth” (Jeff) Burchfield of Colorado Springs, CO, Rebecca (Greg) Dohrman of St. Louis, MO, and Amy (Jim) Monahan of Springfield, IL; eight grandchildren: Anna, Megan, Kirsten, and Natalie Burchfield, James and Joanna Dohrman, and Liam and Evie Monahan; brother-in-law Ben Jewison of Batavia, Ill.; sister-in-law Judy Parfitt of Hudson, Wis.; and his beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Nancy Jewison, and his brother-in-law Larry Parfitt.

Jim always remained a farm boy from western Illinois at heart. He attended Western Illinois University and graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago; he drove a Chicago city bus to help his school teacher mother pay for his tuition. After medical school, Dr. Russell completed an internship at Los Angeles County General Hospital in California and a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Milwaukee County General Hospital in Wisconsin, where he met his girl, a nurse named Donna. Jim served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. He then moved to Springfield, Ill., in 1969, where he joined the Springfield Obstetric & Gynecologic Associates (SOGA) and practiced until his retirement in 1998. During his career, Dr. Russell served as chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Memorial Medical Center and as an attending physician with resident education at SIU School of Medicine.

Jim is remembered by his loved ones as a good-natured and devoted husband, father, and grandfather who always put his family first. He inspired all who knew him with his determination to overcome obstacles, his scholarly curiosity about the world, his kind and generous heart, and the mischievous twinkle in his eye. In his spare time, you could always find Jim working in his garden. Besides his love of nature, Jim enjoyed reading, learning, traveling, golf, bluegrass music, cheering for the Illini in his bright orange corduroys, and visiting his family and friends. He was an active member at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church for over fifty years. Jim will be dearly missed.

Family and friends are invited to a memorial visitation Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 10:00 am until the time of a memorial service at 11:00 am at Our Savior's Lutheran Church 2645 Old Jacksonville Rd. Springfield, IL 62704. Pastor Joshua T. Traxel and Chaplain Jeff Harter will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may direct memorial contributions to Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr., Springfield, IL 62712, or Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 2645 Old Jacksonville Rd., Springfield, IL, 62704.

Please visit the online “Life Remembered Story” at www.bischfuneralhomewest.com where tributes and condolences may be left for the family.

Arrangements are in the care of Bisch Funeral Home West, 217-544-5424.