RUSSELL, Park G. 1892 - 1949

RUSSELL, PARKS, KAMP, PACKENHAM, JOHNSON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/27/2011 at 22:19:09

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Monday, January 31, 1949
Page 1, Column 7 and Page 7, Column 4

PARK RUSSELL DIES SUDDENLY WHILE HUNTING

Park G. RUSSELL, prominent Fairfield educator and youth worker, died suddenly yesterday morning when he suffered a heart attack while on a hunting trip near Packwood. He was 56 years of age.

Jefferson county coroner Jack Raymond said today that death was due to a heart attack. No inquest will be held.

One of the most popular members of the Fairfield high school faculty, Mr. RUSSELL was hunting rabbits with Dillon Lowell, school band director, when he was stricken. The two men had been hunting near the Vane Altman home, located southeast of Packwood and about 12 miles northwest of Fairfield.

Mr. RUSSELL was believed to have been in his usual health before he suffered the heart attack. He had undergone a serious chest operation last summer at Rochester, Minn., but recent examinations indicated he had fully recovered.

Lowell placed the time of death at about 11:30 a.m. The two men left their car at the Altman farm and had been hunting since 9:30 a.m. They were returning to the car when another rabbit appeared and RUSSELL raised his gun and shot at it. As he did so, he fell forward in the snow and was dead shortly after Lowell reached his side.

Lowell ran to the Altman home about a half mile away where he summoned Mr. Altman. The two men carried the body to the road and it was returned to Fairfield by the Weston Behner ambulance. A local doctor and the coroner examined it upon arrival.

Active in public school work for the past 28 years, Park RUSSELL joined the Fairfield public school system in 1937 as a grade physical education director. He later transferred to the high school physical education program and held that position until his death. He also served as assistant coach and did much work in freshmen athletics.

Mr. RUSSELL was one of Jefferson county's best known sportsmen and naturalists and was very active in Boy Scouting and other youth activities.

He was born Nov. 16, 1892, near Rome, Iowa, the son of Carl William (sic - William Carl) and Manervia PARKS RUSSELL. His parents of both deceased (sic). He moved to Fairfield at the age of six and spent 34 years of his life in this community.

Mr. RUSSELL graduated from Fairfield high school in 1914 and from Parsons college in 1920. He was prominent in athletics in both high school and college. At Parsons he captained the basketball and football teams and served as Letter Club president.

A veteran of World War I, he served 28 month (sic) in France with the U. S. army. While in France he attended the University of Toulouse and after entering the teaching profession he took summer school work at Iowa and Northwestern universities.

He was married to Zilpha KAMP RUSSELL on July 25, 1921 in Des Moines.

Mr. RUSSELL began his teaching career in 1920 when he was hired as coach and teacher at Guthrie Center high school. He later served in schools at Atlantic and Bloomfield before coming to Fairfield high school in 1937.

He was a member of the Presbyterian church, Masonic lodge and the American Legion in Fairfield. His educational affiliations include the local teachers association, Iowa State Education association; National Education association and the Class Room Teachers.

Mr. RUSSELL is survived by his wife and one son, Lt. Carl K. RUSSELL. A West Point graduate, Lt. RUSSELL is now serving with the U. S. Army in Sapporo, Japan. No funeral arrangements have been made pending word from the son.

Other survivors include the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. Clemina PACKENHAM, Galesburg, Ill.; F. W. RUSSELL, Yarnell, Ariz.; J. A. RUSSELL, Banning, Calif.; Mrs. Fred C. JOHNSON, Fairfield. He was preceded in death by two brothers, three sisters and one infant daughter.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, in Lot SDof17-007. Wife Zilpha died in 1992 and is buried next to him in SDof17-008.