Russell E. Odegaard

September 29, 2012

Russell E. Odegaard

Service Details

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

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