John Benton Russell, Jr.
September 08, 1937 - December 25, 2020
Obituary
MADISON - John Benton Russell, age 83, of Madison, formerly of Cottage Grove, passed away peacefully on Friday, Dec. 25, 2020, at Agrace HospiceCare. He was born on Sept. 8, 1937, in New Haven, Conn., the son of John B. Russell and Helen (Stengel) Russell.
Following high school graduation, John joined the U.S. Navy in 1955. He served for twenty years and was honorably discharged in 1974 as a Chief Boiler Technician. His service also included 2 tours aboard a ship in Vietnam. In November 2019 he was proud to have the privilege to join the Badger Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.
John married Diana (Kemp) Russell on April 3, 1971, in Pawtucket, R.I. After leaving the Navy, he had his own Fix-It business in Connecticut, called “John’s Fix-It.” In his free time, he enjoyed woodworking.
John was a member of the Madison East Kiwanis, and also a member of Monona Evangelical Lutheran Church, where he served on the Church Properties Committee.
John is survived by his wife, Diana; daughters, Kathy (Richard) Klinke, Amy (Joseph) Corcoran and Vicki (Mark) Duncan; son, Johnathan (Julianne) Russell; and grandchildren, Andrew, Samantha and Helen Klinke, Micah Olson, Nathaniel Russell and Jake Duncan; and many other nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Jason Duncan; and siblings, Norma Jean Andrews, Richard Russell, Helen Buzzard and Linda Ann Minoudis.
A funeral service will be held at MONONA EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 4411 Monona Drive, Madison, at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, with the Rev. Thomas Nowak presiding. Friends and family who wish to view the service via LIVE STREAM may do so by visiting John’s obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com at 10 a.m. on Tuesday and clicking the “Live Webcast” link. Burial will follow at Highland Memory Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to Monona Evangelical Lutheran Church, Madison East Kiwanis, Agrace HospiceCare or the Badger Honor Flight. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420
Events
Funeral Service
Tue Jan 5, 2021 @ 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM CDT
Monona Evangelical Lutheran Church • 4411 Monona Dr, Madison, WI 53716
Livestream
Tue Jan 5, 2021 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM CDT
Lake Accotink Park • 5660 Hemming Ave, Springfield, VA 22151
Graveside Service
Tue Jan 5, 2021 @ 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM CDT
Highland Memory Gardens • 3054 County Rd BB, Madison, WI 53718
Photos
No photos of John have been shared yet.
Memories
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MIKE HARDER
Other •
HE WAS THE ONLY MAN I WOULD TRUST TO RUN MY SHOP, VERY TRUSTING MAN. GOOD HEARTED AND ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP. HE LOVED HIS WIFE SO VERY MUCH. HE WILL BE SO MISSED BY US AT FINICKI AUTO ELECTRIC. HE WAS VERY SPECIAL. SO LONG CHIEF AND I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN, GOD BLESS
HO
Heather Onufer
Other •
There are many memories of "Dad" Russell that I hold dear since I was blessed to know him from the time I was five or six years old. A close friend of Amy's, I spent a lot of time with the family in Killingworth, Connecticut and later in Wisconsin. The Russells treated me as one one of their own from a young age and I have fond memories of Dad's famous "orange juice pancakes," numerous campouts in the yard, watching "Little House on the Prairie," having picnics and swimming in the pool, going on trips to fun places and receiving his handmade dollhouse custom built just for me. To know "Dad" was to feel and know love; he embodied it in so many ways. Not long before his passing he reminded me to take life one day at a time. He will be sorely missed.