Russell E. Odegaard
September 29, 2012
Russell Odegaard, 80, passed away Saturday, September 29, 2012, at the V.A. Hospital in Des Moines. Russ was born July 5, 1932, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Evangeline and Leonard Odegaard. As a child, he spent a lot of time visiting his Grandma Minnie in Fairfax, MN.
He served in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. In 1966, Russ earned his Master's Degree from Drake University. His greatest passion was teaching high school for the Des Moines Public Schools, but on the weekends he was a music disc jockey for WHO Radio in Des Moines from 1970-1989.
Russ was very proud of his Norwegian heritage, and was a member of the Sons of Norway. He was also a member of American Legion Post #42. He enjoyed magic, puppetry, music, trivia, photography, painting, cartooning, art, traveling, interviewing country music artists, and comedy.
Russ is survived by his wife of 57 years, Romayne; six children, Len (Patti) Odegaard, Larry (Dottie) Odegaard, Leif Odegaard, Lorri Lynde, Linda (Bill) Blubaugh, and Lance (Mitzi) Odegaard; 12 grandchildren, Tiffany, Jeremy, Angie, Amanda, Jesica, Sara, Ben, Isiah, Zach, Noah, Derrick and Justin; as well as 12 great-grandchildren, Livi, Kieren, Aiden, Emma, Ava, Keenan, Zaelen, Liam, Trenton, Jayson, Peyton, Jamaya, and 2 more on the way.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Thursday, October 4, 2012, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue. The family will greet friends from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Legion Post 42, the Iowa Veterans Home, or New Direction Fellowship of God, in loving memory of Russ.
Online condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Gary Samouris
10/19/2012
I was a student at Tech in the 60's. Russ was my teacher, mentor and later a personal friend. I still remember the fun and good times at Tech. My deepest sympathy to his family.
Dave Melone
10/14/2012
Very sad news. My condolences to the family. Worked with Russ both at ch. 11 and KCBC. He had a great radio voice and wonderful sense of humor. He was both a friend and mentor to me.
brian noland
10/08/2012
sorry for ur loss hey odey (larry) get ahold of me been awhile
nolandb@hotmail.com
gloria yeager sudbrocl
10/03/2012
my North High School teacher-one of my favorite-he always taught us how to talk! My sorrow to the family
Jamie Mulford
10/03/2012
Jeremy, I'm so sorry to hear about your Grandpa. It sounds like he was a wonderful man. Thoughts and prayers to you and your family.
marvin nolte
10/03/2012
he was more than a teacher to me..he was a mentor and a great freind...sorry to see him leave early..rip mr.o class of 1979
Michelle (Good) Heaberlin
10/02/2012
I had Mr. Odegaard for English at Tech. He always made class interesting. He also MC'd our class reunion and we all had a blast. He will be greatly missed.
Class of 79
Neil Black
10/02/2012
Russ was a hero to me. I took a summer TV class at the old Tech HS. He was one of the instructors. He convinced me that my desire for a broadcasting career was real, and I should pursue it passionately. I'm now in my 50th year in television news.
He will be missed.
Bill Dennis aka Captain Jack
10/02/2012
I worked with Russ at Tech and CH-11 as TV director. He was a very nice person. I loved his voices, especially of a baby crying.
Don Silcott
10/02/2012
It is sad to learn of the passing of Russ Odegaard, an important guiding influence in my life.
Russ was a solid, moral and patriotic role model. With no planning for college, I was quickly taken by the military after graduation from Tech, serving on active duty during Vietnam and as a reservist through Desert Storm.
What a thrill it was to receive the occasional letter from my high school teacher and to hear Russ Odegaards 1967 holiday greetings by home-town broadcasters to the troops on the short-wave frequencies of Armed Forces Radio.
Russ was instrumental in my own careers in broadcasting and college-level teaching. Besides helping me learn that working in radio and TV could be rewarding and pleasurable, he helped me develop a commitment to the broadcast audiences right to know and to provide as much of all sides as possible to help listeners and viewers reach their own conclusions. That led to an inner sense of fairness and respect for a variety of opinions and beliefs so that I would never use the medium I work for to spread my personal feelings. .I even strayed from the media to work as a press aide for a political person for whom I did not vote and, as an open-minded protestant, to teach journalism at a Catholic university.
Dear God, bless Russ Odegaard and comfort his family and friends!
Dan Ross
10/02/2012
My deepest sympathies to the family of a man who touched my life in such a meaningful way. Russ sort of discovered me at KDPS at Tech H.S. With his support and tutoring, he helped me land a broadcast position at KCBC. There, I was able to earn the funds to attend and graduate from ISU. Russ instilled in me a belief that with focused motivation, I could achieve my boldest dreams. I recently retired from Motorola as a Manager of Engineering and a career that was fun, demanding and full of meaningful successes. I will be eternally grateful to Russ for his personal attention to kick-start the rest of my lifeGod Bless
Kathy Cunningham
10/02/2012
I remember Mr. Odegaard. A very nice man and good teacher. My prayers to all.
Dave and Melissa Rarick
10/02/2012
Our deepest sympathies and condolences are with you at this time of loss. Bill, Linda and Family, you are in our prayers.
Gary Barrett
10/02/2012
Russ was a friend and a mentor. He taught me about broadcasting but also about having fun. I will always remember his impish spirit. It saddens me that he's gone as that spirit was so uplifting. My sympathies to his family.
Gary Johansen
10/02/2012
I took a class with Mr Odegaard in 10th grade and ended up joining his debate team and later transferred to Tech High to study Radio and Television. I wanted to work in Radio but ended up doing something else. I have often talked about how he influenced me in a way that allowed me to think independently and speak with confidence, skills I have used and taught ever since.
My thoughts and prayer are with the family this morning, but I hope the rest of us, his fans, will remember "Dan Reed" as a great entertainer and dj with a 50,000 Watt voice.
Thanks