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REMER - John I. Russell, age 92, of Remer Minnesota passed away Sunday, January 2, 2011, at Deer River Hospital. John was born in Duluth on May 19, 1918 and grew up in Shovel Lake Minnesota where his parents Ethel and Bill Russell ran the general store. John attended grade school in Shovel Lake and then graduated from Hill City High school in 1935. He then went on to Itasca College and the University of Minnesota and graduated with a degree in Journalism in 1939. Those of you who were lucky enough to receive letters from him will remember his quick wit and excellent writing style. John told stories about picking wild rice to purchase his first car and to pay for college tuition.

John entered the U.S. Army in 1941 and trained at Percy Jones Hospital in Battle Creek Michigan before shipping out to England. He helped to establish and served at the 124th General Hospital during his time in England. When he was not occupied with medical record keeping, John purchased a bicycle and toured the local villages looking at the scenery and the golf courses.

After the war John married Wanda Renn of Remer on December 27, 1947. Due to the lack of newspaper jobs at the time, he began his long career in banking working at the Security State Bank of Remer. Later he sold insurance for the Nicklason Insurance Agency. John loved to play Sousa marches with the community band, and enjoyed duck hunting and being in the woods. He was an avid golfer enjoying the Tianna and Pokegama courses. John was a member of the Eugene Wilson American Legion Post 346, the Masonic Lodge, the Walker Barbershop Musical group, and the Remer Area Ambulance corps which he helped to found. He was also an amazing crossword puzzle master and he loved his stamp collection hobby. One of his other hobbies were his visits to the Northern Lights Casino where he had many friends and where the staff always had his little side table awaiting him at the noon buffet with his chocolate milk on the table. He is remembered by all for his trademark sense of humor and story telling ability.

John was preceded in death by Wanda, his wife of 52 years. He is survived by his sister Ruth Ann Clouse of Lake Montezuma, Ariz.; brother and sister-in-law Lee and Bonnie Renn of Remer; son Dan of Remer; daughter Linda of Edmonds, Wash.; and grand daughter Sara Russell Kienzle and her husband Doug of Portland, Ore. Also surviving John are many nieces and nephews mostly residing in Minnesota, Arizona, and Kansas.

At John's request, there will not be a funeral service. Arrangements are being handled by Rowe Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Minnesota Hisotrical Society to honor John's deep interest in state history and his fondness for the First Minnesota Volunteer Regiment in the Civil War. The address is: Minnesota Historical Society, 345 West Kellogg Bld., St. Paul Minnesota 55102-1906 or www.mnhs-legacy.org.

To sign the online guest book or send condolences visit www.rowefuneralhomeandcrematory.com .[[In-content Ad]]

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