Russell C. Anderson

Unlike many parents, Russ never told his children what to do or how to do it. He wasn't one to give advice. Instead, Russ just lived his life the best way he knew how to, being optimistic, kind, and appreciative toward every person, every day. His subtle nature ended up making quite an impact, inspiring countless people to smile and enjoy life to its fullest. Russ grew up as an only child. He was born September 18, 1922 in Chicago, where his parents, B.C. and Dorella (Bumstead) Anderson, were living at the time. Russ's father was Swedish born, and had made his way to Chicago to work as a supervisor at Brunswick Corporation. Russ's mother was of German ancestry (but born in the US ), and as a wife and mother she looked after the home and tried to keep her son out of mischief. At the age of six, Russ moved with his parents to Muskegon, Michigan, a growing town just a ways northeast of Chicago along the beautiful Lake Michigan coast. Although he didn't have a sibling of his own, Russ made his uncle, Clark Bumstead, his honorary brother. The two of them were always together. During the Depression years, they cut firewood for hours on end and then sold it, making a bit of extra pocket change. Like any big brother, Clark gave Russ his first driving lesson. Russ was well short of the driving age at the time, but it didn't matter. They just climbed into the Model T and headed down the road, never looking back. Russ and Clark loved fishing as much as driving, if not more. On one fateful evening, Clark woke Russ in the middle of the night and said, "Let's go catch some fish!" Russ jumped out of bed and they made their way through the darkness to a nearby lake, where they got bite after bite after bite. They were thrilled about their good fortune until they realized the bad news: their lucky spot was restricted for Indian fishing. In school, Russ tried to be an athlete, but it wasn't meant to be. After missing the cut for the track team, he decided to try out for the glee club chorus instead. Music proved to be his strong suite. Besides singing, Russ played the clarinet, both in band and in the high school orchestra. After graduating from Muskegon Heights High in 1940, Russ entered Muskegon Business College. Unfortunately, the excitement of World War II made it hard to focus on schoolwork. Russ finally decided to enlist in the Navy, but to no avail. The Navy denied his request. Finally, Russ got his chance to represent his country when the Army drafted him in 1942. Following his World War II service, Russ entered the Navy Reserve. He married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Fredricks, in 1942, shortly before he was called into active duty during the Korean conflict. Thankfully, Russ returned safely, and he and Shirley went on to have five children: Dale, Mark, Eric, Lori, and Nancy. After many wonderful years, Russ was devastated when Shirley unexpectedly died in 1980. Her loss left a great void. Fortunately, a woman named Eleanor Essington eventually made her way into Russ's heart and helped him move through a very a lonely period in his life. Russ and Eleanor married in 1986. The union brought five more children into Russ's family: John, Jim, Phil, Marcia, and Sheilla. Russ and Eleanor never hesitated to boast about their wonderfully large family, which ended up consisting of ten children and a seemingly endless number of grand and great grand children. Russ always felt very blessed to have so many people around. He was particularly grateful to have shared his life Shirley and Eleanor, two of the most loving people he could ever have hoped to meet. For his work, Russ held many positions. He was a volunteer fireman in Norton Shores for 38 years, as well as a member of the school board during a time of great change, when the consolidation of numerous schools created the Mona Shores School District. Russ retired as the Director of Maintenance and Transportation for Mona Shores Public Schools several years ago. He spent his later years camping, traveling, reading, and, of course, driving. The happiest days of Russ's life were the ones he spent with family, whether it was a birth, a marriage, or a Sunday afternoon drive through the country. Not surprisingly, Russ's children found him to be a model father, the kind of man they always looked up to and admired. "My dad was a humble man," says Eric, "and he was an excellent teacher, although he didn't know it. Early in my life he taught me the usual things; how to treat people, how to be honest... he taught me humility, he gave me a love for tools and working with my hands. Later on he taught me the value of life, of how precious and fragile it is." When Russ contracted Guillan Barre Syndrome at age 74, the news was difficult for everyone. "As dad became more ill," Eric remembers, "he taught me kindness, he taught me patience, and he taught me optimism...yet I cannot remember him ever telling me what I needed to know, I cannot remember him mandating what I should do, I cannot remember him forcing me to do anything. He taught simply by example." Russ taught many precious lessons to the people in his life, lessons that will be passed down in family history for years to come. A man of honor and humility, Russ was very greatly loved and will be missed by all who knew him. Russell C. Anderson, age 83, died Friday, April 21, 2006. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor; two sons, Dale ( Nancy ) Anderson and Eric (Lori) Anderson; two daughters, Lori (Scott) Anderson Bennett and Nancy Metz; step-children, Marcia (Kevin) Scott, Sheila Nelson, John Essington, and Phillip (Shelly) Hilliker; daughter-in-law, Sharon Essington; and many loved grandchildren and great grandchildren. Russ was preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley, in 1980, his son Mark Anderson, and his step-son Jim Essington. A memorial service for Russ will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at Westwood Reformed Church, with Rev. David Willerup officiating. Visitation will precede the service from 10-11 a.m. at the same location. Please visit lifestorynet.com, where you can learn more about Russ, share a memory with his family, or make a memorial contribution to the Westwood Reformed Church, Hospice of Muskegon-Oceana, or American Diabetes Association.