Russell E. “Russ” Myers, 92, of Morton, passed away Sun., Aug. 12, 2018, at Heartland Health Care Center-Riverview, in East Peoria.
Russ was born Feb. 19, 1926, in Fairview, Ill., to Frank and Flossie (Munson) Myers. He grew up in a farming family among eight siblings in rural Illinois where he was known by his nickname “Bill”. He married Josephine Neff in 1946. Russ was preceded in death by his beloved wife on Oct. 22, 2015. One of his last acts of devotion was his tender care of Josephine in her struggle with Alzheimer’s.
Surviving are three sons, Russ (Kathy) Myers of Morton, Joe (Linda) Myers of Sunrise Beach, Texas, and Tom (Hollie) Myers of Glen Ellyn, Ill.; one daughter, Mary Myers of Aurora, Colo.; four grandchildren, Russell “Nick” and Michael “Zach” Myers, Jeni (Ken) Gentry and Chris (Amy) Myers; and five great-grandchildren, Mason, Alice and Lewis Gentry, and Tommy and Joey Myers. He is also survived by his loving sister, Ila Sloan of Avon, Ill.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Otis, Roland and Frank Myers; and four sisters, Dora Bernhart, Frances Lewis, Helen Stevenson, and Charlotte Hughes.
Russ joined the Navy during WWII and served near the Panama Canal as an electrician preparing PT boat systems & training crews. His tour also brought him to Staten Island where he caught the eye of a Brooklyn lass and convinced her that life out in the wilds of the Midwest would be an adventure. The blend of their strengths & character brought them through over 70 years of making a home, raising a family & negotiating life's surprises & heartaches.
Russ worked as the Parts Department Manager for 27 years at Travis Cadillac-Pontiac Co. in Peoria, 3 years at Douglas Oldsmobile in Clinton, 10 years at S&K Chevrolet in Peoria and retired in 1988.
As a young dad, Russ enjoyed working with the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, serving as assistant scout master and troop treasurer. Scouters knew him to Be Prepared for all camping activities.
He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 5921 in Morton.
From volunteering with the original construction of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church to home improvement projects for extended family, Russ was always ready with his tools and skills to lend a hand to friends, family and community.
He enjoyed being outside, camping, fishing, gardening, working on cars and teaching his kids & grandkids the practical things of life. After retirement he and Josephine were regularly on the road in their RV, taking road trips with their grandchildren, wintering in Texas and visiting family and friends.
Cremation rites have been accorded.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, August 25, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Resurrection Cemetery, 7519 N. Allen Rd., in Peoria.
The family wishes to thank all those who helped ease both Russ and Jo’s final years.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Central Illinois.
Russ was born Feb. 19, 1926, in Fairview, Ill., to Frank and Flossie (Munson) Myers. He grew up in a farming family among eight siblings in rural Illinois where he was known by his nickname “Bill”. He married Josephine Neff in 1946. Russ was preceded in death by his beloved wife on Oct. 22, 2015. One of his last acts of devotion was his tender care of Josephine in her struggle with Alzheimer’s.
Surviving are three sons, Russ (Kathy) Myers of Morton, Joe (Linda) Myers of Sunrise Beach, Texas, and Tom (Hollie) Myers of Glen Ellyn, Ill.; one daughter, Mary Myers of Aurora, Colo.; four grandchildren, Russell “Nick” and Michael “Zach” Myers, Jeni (Ken) Gentry and Chris (Amy) Myers; and five great-grandchildren, Mason, Alice and Lewis Gentry, and Tommy and Joey Myers. He is also survived by his loving sister, Ila Sloan of Avon, Ill.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Otis, Roland and Frank Myers; and four sisters, Dora Bernhart, Frances Lewis, Helen Stevenson, and Charlotte Hughes.
Russ joined the Navy during WWII and served near the Panama Canal as an electrician preparing PT boat systems & training crews. His tour also brought him to Staten Island where he caught the eye of a Brooklyn lass and convinced her that life out in the wilds of the Midwest would be an adventure. The blend of their strengths & character brought them through over 70 years of making a home, raising a family & negotiating life's surprises & heartaches.
Russ worked as the Parts Department Manager for 27 years at Travis Cadillac-Pontiac Co. in Peoria, 3 years at Douglas Oldsmobile in Clinton, 10 years at S&K Chevrolet in Peoria and retired in 1988.
As a young dad, Russ enjoyed working with the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, serving as assistant scout master and troop treasurer. Scouters knew him to Be Prepared for all camping activities.
He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 5921 in Morton.
From volunteering with the original construction of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church to home improvement projects for extended family, Russ was always ready with his tools and skills to lend a hand to friends, family and community.
He enjoyed being outside, camping, fishing, gardening, working on cars and teaching his kids & grandkids the practical things of life. After retirement he and Josephine were regularly on the road in their RV, taking road trips with their grandchildren, wintering in Texas and visiting family and friends.
Cremation rites have been accorded.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, August 25, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Resurrection Cemetery, 7519 N. Allen Rd., in Peoria.
The family wishes to thank all those who helped ease both Russ and Jo’s final years.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Central Illinois.
Russell E. “Russ” Myers, 92, of Morton, passed away Sun., Aug. 12, 2018, at Heartland Health Care Center-Riverview, in East Peoria.
Russ was born Feb. 19, 1926, in Fairview, Ill., to Frank and Flossie (Munson) Myers. He grew up in a farming family among eight siblings in rural Illinois where he was known by his nickname “Bill”. He married Josephine Neff in 1946. Russ was preceded in death by his beloved wife on Oct. 22, 2015. One of his last acts of devotion was his tender care of Josephine in her struggle with Alzheimer’s.
Surviving are three sons, Russ (Kathy) Myers of Morton, Joe (Linda) Myers of Sunrise Beach, Texas, and Tom (Hollie) Myers of Glen Ellyn, Ill.; one daughter, Mary Myers of Aurora, Colo.; four grandchildren, Russell “Nick” and Michael “Zach” Myers, Jeni (Ken) Gentry and Chris (Amy) Myers; and five great-grandchildren, Mason, Alice and Lewis Gentry, and Tommy and Joey Myers. He is also survived by his loving sister, Ila Sloan of Avon, Ill.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Otis, Roland and Frank Myers; and four sisters, Dora Bernhart, Frances Lewis, Helen Stevenson, and Charlotte Hughes.
Russ joined the Navy during WWII and served near the Panama Canal as an electrician preparing PT boat systems & training crews. His tour also brought him to Staten Island where he caught the eye of a Brooklyn lass and convinced her that life out in the wilds of the Midwest would be an adventure. The blend of their strengths & character brought them through over 70 years of making a home, raising a family & negotiating life's surprises & heartaches.
Russ worked as the Parts Department Manager for 27 years at Travis Cadillac-Pontiac Co. in Peoria, 3 years at Douglas Oldsmobile in Clinton, 10 years at S&K Chevrolet in Peoria and retired in 1988.
As a young dad, Russ enjoyed working with the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, serving as assistant scout master and troop treasurer. Scouters knew him to Be Prepared for all camping activities.
He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 5921 in Morton.
From volunteering with the original construction of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church to home improvement projects for extended family, Russ was always ready with his tools and skills to lend a hand to friends, family and community.
He enjoyed being outside, camping, fishing, gardening, working on cars and teaching his kids & grandkids the practical things of life. After retirement he and Josephine were regularly on the road in their RV, taking road trips with their grandchildren, wintering in Texas and visiting family and friends.
Cremation rites have been accorded.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, August 25, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Resurrection Cemetery, 7519 N. Allen Rd., in Peoria.
The family wishes to thank all those who helped ease both Russ and Jo’s final years.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Central Illinois.
Russ was born Feb. 19, 1926, in Fairview, Ill., to Frank and Flossie (Munson) Myers. He grew up in a farming family among eight siblings in rural Illinois where he was known by his nickname “Bill”. He married Josephine Neff in 1946. Russ was preceded in death by his beloved wife on Oct. 22, 2015. One of his last acts of devotion was his tender care of Josephine in her struggle with Alzheimer’s.
Surviving are three sons, Russ (Kathy) Myers of Morton, Joe (Linda) Myers of Sunrise Beach, Texas, and Tom (Hollie) Myers of Glen Ellyn, Ill.; one daughter, Mary Myers of Aurora, Colo.; four grandchildren, Russell “Nick” and Michael “Zach” Myers, Jeni (Ken) Gentry and Chris (Amy) Myers; and five great-grandchildren, Mason, Alice and Lewis Gentry, and Tommy and Joey Myers. He is also survived by his loving sister, Ila Sloan of Avon, Ill.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Otis, Roland and Frank Myers; and four sisters, Dora Bernhart, Frances Lewis, Helen Stevenson, and Charlotte Hughes.
Russ joined the Navy during WWII and served near the Panama Canal as an electrician preparing PT boat systems & training crews. His tour also brought him to Staten Island where he caught the eye of a Brooklyn lass and convinced her that life out in the wilds of the Midwest would be an adventure. The blend of their strengths & character brought them through over 70 years of making a home, raising a family & negotiating life's surprises & heartaches.
Russ worked as the Parts Department Manager for 27 years at Travis Cadillac-Pontiac Co. in Peoria, 3 years at Douglas Oldsmobile in Clinton, 10 years at S&K Chevrolet in Peoria and retired in 1988.
As a young dad, Russ enjoyed working with the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, serving as assistant scout master and troop treasurer. Scouters knew him to Be Prepared for all camping activities.
He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 5921 in Morton.
From volunteering with the original construction of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church to home improvement projects for extended family, Russ was always ready with his tools and skills to lend a hand to friends, family and community.
He enjoyed being outside, camping, fishing, gardening, working on cars and teaching his kids & grandkids the practical things of life. After retirement he and Josephine were regularly on the road in their RV, taking road trips with their grandchildren, wintering in Texas and visiting family and friends.
Cremation rites have been accorded.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, August 25, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Resurrection Cemetery, 7519 N. Allen Rd., in Peoria.
The family wishes to thank all those who helped ease both Russ and Jo’s final years.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Central Illinois.
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