Russel Gene COLE

COLE, REYNOLDS, JONES, DAVIS, STAMMER, WAUGH, JOHNSTON, RAWLINS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/19/2011 at 18:04:06

May 28, 1928 --- July 16, 2010

Russel Gene Cole, age 82, of Algona died Friday, July 16, 2010 at the West Bend Care Center in West Bend, Iowa following a short illness. Funeral services for Russel Gene Cole will be held Friday, July 23 at 10:00 a.m. at the Faith Assembly of God Church in Algona, with Rev. Ed Harp officiating. Visitation will be Thursday, July 22 from 5 pm to 7 pm at Lentz Funeral Home in Algona. Graveside services will be at 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Lamoni followed by a gathering at the family farm south of Lamoni.

Russel was born May 28, 1928 in Ecorse, Michigan to Walter Wesley and Cecil Edith Reynolds Cole. The family later moved to Lamoni, Iowa where he graduated from high school. On June 1, 1947, just a few days after graduation he married his high school sweetheart, V. “Armagene” Jones. Together they raised 4 children, Vernon LeRoy, Janet DeAnn, Gary DuWayne, and Rhonda Jean. After high school Russel and his new wife moved from Lamoni to Galt, Iowa where he worked as a farm hand. A short time later they moved to Algona making it their permanent home. He spent many years delivering milk around Kossuth County to both businesses and private residences. He worked for Brown’s Dairy, Carnation, Lehmann’s Dairy, Terrace Park Dairy and Land O’ Lakes. When the door to door milk man became a thing of the past he began working for B’Gone Trash Removal and later Dump-It until he retired.

Russel was very active in the community of Algona. He spent 30 years running the down box at football games for Algona High School, missing only one game. He was honored with a plaque for his dedicated service. In years past he was a member of the Algona CB Radio Club, the Algona City Band, and the Algona’s Barber Shopper’s. He also played in numerous bands throughout the county entertaining many in bars and at various events. He is best known as the tuba player for The Country Goodtimer’s donating a great deal of his time during his retirement years to the Senior Center and the nursing homes in Algona and surrounding communities with over 1000 volunteer performances. For over twenty years he also played Santa Claus for the city of Algona, a part which he fit very well. Many young children were awed at how he knew their names and as they grew older, figured out Santa was also the milk man.

Russel is survived by his children, Vernon Cole and his wife Pat of Fenton, Janet Davis, Omaha, Nebraska, Gary Cole and his wife Sheri of Greeley, Colorado, and Rhonda Stammer and her special friend Randy Waugh of Algona, one sister, Patsy Johnston of Lamoni, 14 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 4 step-great grandchildren, and 2 great – great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Armagene, his parents, his sister Shirley Rawlins, 2 great grandsons, and a son–in–law, Randy Stammer.

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