William Russ Connell

William ""Russ"" Connell, 77, of Denver, Colorado, beloved husband and best friend of Eloise Connell for 42 years passed away peacefully on September 10, 2015, at the Swedish Medical Center, from complications with his lungs. When he passed, he was surrounded by the family he laughed with, lived for, and loved. Russ was born in Stuart, Nebraska, and lived on a homestead farm in Mariaville, Nebraska (North Central Nebraska) until the age of 9. The family then moved to Mesa, Arizona and lived there until 1950 and then relocated to La Crescenta, California. He attended Glendale High School, graduating in 1956. He then attended Letourneau College in Longview, Texas for one year and transferred to Fresno State College in California, receiving a B.S. in Industrial Engineering in 1961. He then did a stint in the Air Force and Air National Guard. His first job was with Armstrong Rubber Company near Hanford, California until 1966, and he then took a job with Gates Rubber Company in Denver, Colorado. He worked for Gates in various engineering capacities, retiring in 1998 (31 ½ years). While working at Gates, he received an MBA from the University of Colorado. After retirement, he designed and built his dream house near Buena Vista, Colorado and eventually settled back in west Denver due to health issues. Along the way Russ married Karen Parent and they had three sons, William (Rusty) (1963), Wesley (1965) and Wayne (1967). They also adopted a daughter from Korea named Susan (1957) when she was 8 years old. Karen and Russ parted ways in 1971. Russ later met Eloise and they were married in 1973. Eloise had a son from a previous marriage named Mark (1964). Russ is survived by his wife Eloise and all of their children and families as well as his only sister, Eleanor Lombard, and step-brother, Wayne Linscheid. Russ enjoyed many hobbies over the years, including collecting antique radios, woodworking, Hamm Radio and RVing. He was always involved in his church and loved the Lord. Please join his family for a Celebration of Life Service at the Foothills Bible Church on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 2 pm. The church is located at 6100 S. Devinney Way, Littleton, CO 80127. For more information on the church, please consult their website at www.foothillsbiblechurch.org.