Leonard Grover Russell of Akron, age 83, passed away on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at Covenant Health Care–Cooper in Saginaw. He was born December 10, 1931 in Fairgrove, and grew up in Fairgrove Township, the son of farmer and country store owners, Grover and Ada (Tennant) Russell with his two sisters, Ruth and Phyllis. Leonard attended the Graham Country School through eighth grade and graduated from Caro High School in 1950. He received his religious teaching from Fairgrove Presbyterian Church and Bethel Country Church. He and Bethaleen Irish were united in marriage on August 2, 1952 at the Akron Methodist Church by Reverend Guenther Branster. Leonard and Bethaleen both lived on Sheridan and Darbee Roads since they were young children. They farmed together during their sixty-two years of marriage. Leonard was an active member of Bethel United Methodist Church and he enjoyed camping and traveling, spending time with his family, wintering in Florida, and visiting. Leonard is survived by his wife, Bethaleen, along with their four children, Nancy and Richard Sylvester of Fairgrove, Ricky and AnnaRae Russell of Akron, Randy Russell and friend, Nancy Beck, of Gaylord, David and Annette Russell of Caro; Nancy and Richard’s family, Rachel Sylvester, Madison Gwizdala, Mark and Mandi Sylvester, Lincoln Sylvester, and baby Ivan Sylvester expected in August, of Reese; Ricky and AnnaRae’s family, Eric and Toni Russell, Kennedy, Conner and Carter Russell, Christian (CJ) Monville of Fairgrove, Mitchell and Sara Russell, Landon, Easton and Aria Russell of Akron, Matthew and Colleen Russell, Myra Russell, and Fern Russell of Vassar, Kelly and Anthony Burrell, stationed in Germany, Bradley and Beth McNeil, Jack, Sydney and Alex McNeil of Mason, Tara and Alan Schlegel, Warren and Wade Schlegel of Richville; Randy Russell and friend, Nancy Beck’s family, Brandi Russell and fiancé, John Hynes, of Phoenix, Arizona, Andru Russell and friend, Alysha Randall, of Mt. Pleasant, Erik Myers, Scott and Jodi Myers. Also surviving Leonard are his brother-in-law, Paul Findlay and his wife, Pauline, of Caro; sister-in-law, Shirley Arnold and her husband, Albert, of Caro; special niece, Ruth Anne McConnell Routsong of Newnan, Georgia; and many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Phyllis Findlay, and Ruth McConnell and her husband, Norman. Funeral services will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at the Fairgrove Presbyterian Church with Rev. Dorothy Thon of Bethel United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Brookside Cemetery in Fairgrove with Leonard’s eight grandchildren serving as pallbearers. The family will be present to receive friends at the Ransford Collon Funeral Home on Monday from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and at the church on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorial contributions to the Fairgrove Township Library or the Great Start Tuscola’s Imagination Library. The family was assisted with these arrangements by the Ransford Collon Funeral Home of Caro. Friends may share memories, thoughts and prayers online at www.RansfordCollon.com.
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