Alvin Clare Russie

Alvin Clare Russie, 82, Clive, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 23, at Mercy West Lakes Hospital after a brief illness.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, February 27, from 5 to 7 pm, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 3601 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, with family present. A celebration of life will be held at 12:00 pm on Thursday, February 28, at the funeral home.

Clare was born August 25, 1930, to Alvin J and Carol Russie in Carroll, Iowa. He grew up in Marshalltown, Iowa, graduating from Marshalltown High School in 1949 as an All-State Basketball Player.

After high school Clare attended Iowa State University where he earned a B.S. in Landscape Architecture, played Cyclone basketball for four years, earned his way into the prestigious ISU Letterwinners organization, and, most importantly, found Marilyn (Ethington) – the love of his life – living in the Chi Omega house just across the street from his Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

Clare and Marilyn married on September 7, 1952, and celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary last year with family and friends at their home in the Walnut Ridge Senior Community.

After college Clare served in the United States Army Signal Corps from June, 1954, to March, 1956, and held the rank of First Lieutenant at the time of his honorable discharge. Since then Clare has worked as a city planner across the country, eventually settling back in Des Moines to work in policy planning for the State of Iowa up until his retirement in 1994.

“The good thing about retirement,” Clare once said, “is that I can do what I want when I want. The bad thing,” he added, “Is that I never get a day off.”

In his retirement Clare remained active in the American Planning Association and the American Legion. He also maintained his deeply-seated loyalty to ISU athletics and has been a recognizable figure cruising the many miles of urban paths in Clive on his recumbent bicycle. He enjoyed travel and spending Winter months on the Gulf Coast of Alabama. He also enjoyed using the fitness center and revived his interest in playing cribbage with new-found friends after moving to Walnut Ridge.

Clare is survived by his wife of sixty years Marilyn Russie, his sister Mary Smith (Jack) from Kansas City, MO, children Randi Russie (Tom Woollems) from Overland Park, KS, Renold Russie (Judy Owens) from New Brighton, MN, Bobbie Russie (Tracy Hinshaw) from Des Moines and Becky Russie from Overland Park, KS.

Clare also knew the joy of eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren – “the finest looking and brightest bunch of kids you’ll ever want to meet.”

In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations to the Food Bank of Iowa, the Iowa State University Foundation for Athletic Scholarships, or a charity of their choice.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

Print