Russell George BRIDGES

BRIDGES, CARPENTER, SCHNIEDER, SCHNEIDER, JOHNSTON, KURAUSKAS, LIFE, FROST, BAILEY, MUELLER, FOUTS, WAGONER, SCHAEFFER, JOHNSON, ALVERSON, ROOT

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/16/2011 at 10:22:03

April 1, 1933 -- January 6, 2011

DOWS, Iowa - Russell G. Bridges, 77, of Dows died Thursday (Jan. 6) at the Rehabilitation Center of Hampton. A memorial service is set for Tuesday (Jan. 11) at 2 p.m. at United Methodist Church in Dows. Pastor Kalin Fristad will officiate. Friends may call on the family an hour before the service at the church. Russell donated his body to the University of Iowa Anatomy Department and burial will be at a later date at Pleasant Hills [Fairview] Cemetery in Dows. Dugger Funeral Home, Dows, is in charge of arrangements.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
January 9, 2011

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Russell G. Bridges, age 77, of Dows, died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011 at the Rehabilitation Center of Hampton. Memorial services for Russell Bridges were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011, at the United Methodist Church in Dows. Pastor Kalin Fristad officiated. Burial will take place in the Fairview cemetery in Dows at a later date. Russell has donated his body to the University of Iowa’s Department of Anatomy.

Russell George, the son of Donald and Fern Carpenter Bridges was born April 1, 1933 near Dows, Iowa. He grew up in the Dows area where he attended schools. Russell graduated from Dows High School in 1951. He went directly into the U.S. Navy. Russell served his country in Korea from 1951 until 1956. Russell was united in marriage to Patricia Schnieder on March 26, 1956 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. The couple later divorced, but remained friends until his death. He began working with Morris Schaeffer Construction in Dows and then later moved to King Construction in Iowa Falls. Russell was employed by King Construction for 26 years, which later became C&R Bridges Erectors Company. Then in 1986, he went to work for Weidemann Construction, until retiring in 1996. Russell raised his family and lived a major part his life in Alden. In the last years of his life, he resided in California and then Dows. Russell belonged to the American Legion Post in Alden and Dows. He was also a member of an American Legion Post in California. Russell, very proud of his service to country, also belonged to Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans.

Russell is survived by his children, Carter (Kay) of Alden: Tanya Bridges of Dows: Kim Johnston (Rick) of Alden: Brenda Kurauskas (Al) of Alden: Todd (Dometila) Ranchero Cucamonga, CA: Melinda Life (Brad) of Ankeny; thirteen grandchildren, Jennifer Bridges: Stephanie Frost: Kristen Bailey: Teresa Mueller: Brandon Bridges: Brian Fouts: Rick Johnston: Joe Johnston: Jered Johnston: Alexandra Kurauskas: Ryan Bridges: Zachary Wagoner: Parker Wagoner; ten great grandchildren; friend, Patricia Schnieder; three sisters, Vivian Schaeffer of Ventura, CA: Donna Johnson of Stratford: and Helen Alverson of Dows. He was preceded in death by his parents, step-mother, Marie Root Bridges; a brother in infancy; four sisters, Viola, Opal, Corrine, Eva; and two brothers, Virgil and Eddie.

Dows Advocate - Dows, Iowa
January 2011