Eldon Russell

December 31, 1928 - December 4, 2009

Eldon Russell, 80, of 1718 Hancock Drive in Boone passed away on Friday evening November 27, 2009 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids following a courageous battle with a brain tumor. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa on December 31, 1928, the son of Harold and Edna (Purcell) Russell. On February 14, 1953, he was united in marriage to Delores Larson. Eldon graduated from Altoona High School and proudly served his country in the United State Army during the Korean Crisis. He was employed by Geo. A. Hormel and Co. in Fort Dodge, Iowa for 15 years. In 1969, he and his brother, Ron, started Continental Construction Co. located in Des Moines. Eldon remained actively involved in the business until the illness prevented his daily drive to Des Moines. His greatest joys were spending time with family, the annual fishing trip to the Boundary Waters, working in his yard, tending to all the flowers, and creating masterpieces in his wood working shop. Eldon was a member of the Augustana Lutheran Church in Boone. His parents, Harold and Edna, and two brothers, Wayne and Ron, preceded him in death. Eldon is survived by his wife of 56 years, Delores; a daughter Karen Reinertson and husband Mark of Cedar Rapids; 2 sons Jeff Russell and wife Leslie of Oakland, California, Steve Russell and wife Sally of Danville, California; 4 grandchildren Derek Reinertson and wife Kristy of Kansas City, Missouri, Matthew Reinertson of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Breanne and Kaleigh Russell both of Cedar Falls, Iowa; a great-granddaughter Kaylynn Reinertson; a sister Juanita Finestad and husband Hap of Urbandale, Iowa; 2 brothers Gale Russell and wife Gayla of Urbandale, Iowa and Don Russell and wife Jean of Billings, Montana; and sisters-in-law Gay Russell of Adel, Iowa, Dixie Cowden and husband Dolan and Loraine Griffin and husband Howard of Salinas, California. Services will be held on Friday morning, December 4th at 11:00 a.m. at the Augustana Lutheran Church in Boone with Pastor Daniel Solomon officiating. Following the service, the body will be cremated. Private burial of the cremains will be in the Linwood Park Cemetery in Boone. Friends may call at the Stark-Welin Chapel in Boone on Thursday evening, December 3rd from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with the family present during that time to greet friends. Visitation will continue Friday morning at the Church from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial may direct their gift to the Augustana Lutheran Church or St. Luke’s Hospice, % St. Luke’s Foundation, P.O. Box 3026, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406.