Russell Grafton Shedenhelm, Mar 10, 1916 - Feb 26, 2005

SHEDENHELM, KIBLER, GAST, STANERSON, YEARIAN

Posted By: Ava Simmons (email)
Date: 2/28/2005 at 07:50:16

OBITUARY, The Gazette, Mon., Feb. 28, 2005:

"RUSSELL GRAFTON SHEDENHELM, 88, died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005, at The Oaks nursing facility at Cottage Grove Place in Cedar Rapids, after a long illness. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories, with the Rev. Beverly Thompson Travis of St. Luke's Hospice officiating. Burial will be in Marengo Cemetery, Marengo, Iowa, where he will rest with his parents, a sister and a brother. Friends may call at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and at the chapel after 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis; his brother, Ray F. Shedenhelm and Ray's son, Thomas L. Shedenhelm and Tom's wife, Peggy. Also surviving are Russell's sister Lovell Gast's children, Jerry Gast and wife Linda and their children, Garth and his wife, Jo Ann, and their children, and Claudia Gast. Also left to care are his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Stanerson; his brother-in-law, George Kibler, and his wife, Wilma; and his brother-in-law, Philip Kibler; and six nephews and their wives and children, George and Ronald Kibler, James, John and David Stanerson and Daniel Kibler. Also left is Shannon Kealii Kaneakua, Russell's godson.

Russell was the loved son of Grafton William and Phoebe Etta Yearian Shedenhelm. He was born March 10, 1916, in Marengo, Iowa, but lived many of his childhood years in Blairstown. He graduated from Marengo with the class of 1934. Russell farmed in Iowa County for many years. On April 7, 1946, he married Phylis Mary Kibler at her family home in Marengo. In 1951, they moved to Cedar Rapids, where Russell worked at Iowa Manufacturing, retiring around 1978.

Russell loved beautiful music and many other things; among them he enjoyed flying and geography. He was privileged to have traveled extensively in various parts of the world. He particularly enjoyed an entire summer and a few weeks of another summer working with his wife in Yellowstone National Park, and with her he enjoyed another long trip on a cargo ship.

Russell was an unassuming person....a good and kind man and a faithful friend. He treasured his friends, and there are many who care deeply for him. Never in his life did he deliberately, either by word or deed, harm anyone or anything.

Phylis releases him with her prayers for the repose of his soul and the confidence that his spirit lives on with his beloved family who have gone before. Thank you for the memories, Russell.

Our gratitude to the loving people who cared for him.

Memorial gifts may be made to St. Luke's Hospice."