Russell Eugene Juhl

January 29, 2015

Service Details

Russell Eugene Juhl, 86, of Mitchellville died at his home on Thursday, January 29, 2015 of causes related to cancer. Visitation will be Monday, February 2, 2015 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Mitchellville Christian Church, 210 3rd Street NW, in Mitchellville. A funeral service will be Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the church with burial at the Mitchellville Cemetery.

Russell was born on May 10, 1928 on the Henry Frees farm east of Irwin, Shelby County, Iowa, to Clarence and Alma (Buthmann) Juhl who were born in Shelby County. Russell had four younger brothers: Henry Lewis, Elmer Dean, Linn Clarence and Richard Otto. Russell grew up among his immediate and extended family which included numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He attended country school for eight years and in May of 1945, at the age of 16, he graduated from Irwin High School. On October 18, 1949 in Hiawatha, Kansas, Russell married Marilyn Edwina Booth, also of Shelby County, Iowa. Russell and Marilyn celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this past October with their family. Russell and Marilyn had four sons: Larry Eugene, Steven Eugene, Gale Eugene and Kurt Edwin.

Russell worked at various jobs. He began work as a farm hand, then drove the milk truck, then drove a gravel truck and in the late 1950’s he went to work for Maytag in Newton, moving his family to the central Iowa area. Russell worked for Deniston & Partridge Lumber in Mitchellville and, for the last 25 years of his working career, he worked for Southeast Polk Schools as a custodian where he was known by the school kids as “Russ.” Russell retired from SEP Schools in June of 1990. In his retirement he worked around the house, mowing his yard and his son, Gale’s acreage, where he loved riding the tractor. He also worked seasonally for Ed and Mary Craig on their farm north of Mitchellville – a job he loved and always enjoyed talking about to family and friends. Most of all in retirement, Russell enjoyed spending time with his family, especially with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren who were the apples of their grandfather/great-grandfather’s eye. Russell was a man well-loved by family and friends alike – no one was ever a stranger to him, just a friend he hadn’t met.

Russell is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his brother, Richard, and his wife, Colleen from Denison, Iowa; his sons, Larry and his wife, Pam of Des Moines; Steven and his wife, Jill, of Lakeland, Florida; Gale and his wife, Denise, of Pleasant Hill; and Kurt of Iowa City; his grandchildren, Chantilly, Brandon, Jennifer, Heather, Mark, Tiffany, Danielle, Meggan, Jacob, Abigale and Matthew; his great-grandchildren, Zachary, Zoey, Kiersten, Keegan, Tyler, Kayla, Amanda, Samantha, Kelsie, Faith, Kate, Luke, Izibelle, Mae, Amelia and two more due to be born this coming year; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

Memorial contributions may be given the Mitchellville Christian Church Scholarship Fund for Bible Camp in loving memory of Russell.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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