Charles Arthur Russell

Charles (Chuck) Arthur Russell: Chuck passed away Thursday at Mahaska Hospital with his family by his side at the age of 88 years, 5 months and 4 days. He is survived by his wife and ""best friend"" Emily, two daughters, Kate Russell Henry and husband Eric Henry, Southwest Harbor, Maine and Julie Russell, Mt. Desert, Maine and his son's partner, Tom Lee, Brooklyn, New York. He is further survived by his grandchildren Eli Muhl, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Beau Lisy and wife Melanie, Southwest Harbor, Maine, Emily Henry, Bar Harbor, Maine, Rachel Henry, Brooklyn, New York, great grandchildren, Ruby and Oliver Muhl and Per and Bos Lisy; as well as many other family members and close friends...and, of course, his dog Osky. Chuck was born May 24th 1922 at home in Oskaloosa on F Ave. West to Don B. Russell and Emma Florence (Rosenberger) Russell. He graduated from Oskaloosa High School in 1941 and attended Parks Air College for one year before entering World War II. He served in the U.S. Navy on a minesweeper in the Pacific and later went through U.S. Naval Aviation pilot training. In 1945 he was married to Emily Alsop and after being discharged from the Navy attended Iowa State University under the GI Bill. Coming back to Oskaloosa he started his own casualty and property insurance business which became Russell & Butler Professional Insurance Agency. Later he acquired Johnson Abstract Company with both businesses operating ""behind the White Pillars"" (now The Book Vault). Chuck served many community organizations such as: chairman of the Mahaska Co. March of Dimes for 10 years until after the polio vaccine; president of Kiwanis Club; president of the YMCA during the building of the present ""Y"" building; chairman of Brotherhood Week for the National Conference of Christians and Jews; president of Mahaska United Community Services; president for 8 years of the Mahaska County United Nations; Mayor of Oskaloosa; chairman of the ""Y"" Building debt retirement campaign; chairman of the Oskaloosa Historical Preservation Commission; trustee of the Airpower Museum for the Antique Airplane Association and was recipient of the Oskaloosa Citizen of Year Award in 1983. He had a long relationship with William Penn University, serving on the Board of Trustees for many years as vice chairman. Both of his parents were graduates of William Penn, his great uncle, Absalom Rosenberger, was president of Penn from 1890 to 1910 and Chuck received an honorary degree from the college. He was an avid fan of the William Penn baseball team. Another of his big interests was the Oskaloosa downtown and the Main Street program. A few of the projects in which he was instrumental were: the restoration of the park and the bandstand, and the restoration of the Chief Mahaska statue; the resurfacing of the downtown alleys; and restoration of the ""green building"" on the Centennial Block to its original brick. He had many other interests and loves. He fondly remembered ""the West End Gang"" and the 5th ward where he grew up. He took pleasure in flying his antique airplane ""Old Jehovah"" and sailing with Emily on their sailboat on Lake of the Ozarks. His camera daily with him, he would take photos of the people and places of Oskaloosa and often showed the slides to local groups. He enjoyed giving formal and informal historical tours around the county. In his last few years he combined his historical knowledge and love of Oskaloosa with his extensive photograph collection to produce the weekly ""A While Ago"" for the Oskaloosa Herald. He also took great pleasure following his son's musical legacy, going on Saturday morning breakfast excursions with friends and spending his summers on Mount Desert Island, Maine with his daughters, grandchildren and his new Maine friends. Chuck was predeceased by his parents, his son Charles Arthur Russell Jr., and his brother George W. Russell. PDF Printable Version

Charles Arthur Russell

May 24, 1922 - October 28, 2010