WOODARD, Russell A.

WOODARD, MANKA, JENSEN, PERSOON, KNAPP

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 7/23/2008 at 07:28:48

Cherokee Chronicle Times, Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Russell A Woodard, 62, of Sun City West, Ariz. passed away on Thursday, July 3, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. A memorial service and burial were held at the Cherokee Memory Gardens cemetery on July 16.

Russ was born Jan. 5, 1946 in Cherokee, graduated from Cherokee High School in 1965, and entered the United States Army. He was a decorated Vietnam Veteran and earned the Army commendation medal for heroism, along with a Purple Heart.

He moved to Omaha, Neb. upon military discharge and joined the City of Omaha Police Department. He was wounded on duty in 1977, and retired with a disability in 1983.

Russ was married on Dec. 22, 2003, in Las Vegas, Nev. to La Vonne Manka. They retired to Arizona in 2004 and resided in Sun City West.

Russ was preceded in death by a sister, Ivana, and a brother, Fred.

He is survived by his wife, La Vonne; his parents, Dolores and David Jensen of Quimby; a son Kevin and a daughter Keri, both of Omaha, Neb., four brothers, Terry Jensen of Topeka, Kan.; Jerry Jensen of Sutherland; Dan Jensen of Sioux City; and Dave Jensen of Reading, Kan.; and two sisters, Sandra Persoon of Storm Lake; and Jerrilyn Knapp of Quimby; four stepsons, Monte, Jeff, Scott, Eric Manka and their families, and many nieces and nephews.

Russ will be truly missed by his grandson, Zach McBride, and all the other people whose lives he has touched.