Alvin Clare Russie
February 23, 2013
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
Brad and Pam Ethington
02/28/2013
Dear Aunt Marilyn, Randi, Rennie, Bobbie and Becky,
We wish we could be with you today, and you are all in our thoughts and prayers. Uncle Clare was a wonderful man, and we know he brought joy to many people. He put others before himself, and always had a kind word for everyone. We have always felt blessed to be a part of the Russie/Ethington family. We know how much he will be missed.
Brad and Pam Ethington
02/28/2013
Dear Aunt Marilyn, Randi, Rennie, Bobbie and Becky,
We wish we could be with you today, and you are all in our thoughts and prayers. Uncle Clare was a wonderful man, and we know he brought joy to many people. He put others before himself, and always had a kind word for everyone. We have always felt blessed to be a part of the Russie/Ethington family. We know how much he will be missed. Love, Brad and Pam
Phil Ethington
02/27/2013
Dear Aunt Marilyn and Cousins Bobbie, Becky, Rennie and Randi, I regret not being part of the big appreciation for Uncle Clare and all his great qualities and contributions to all of us. I don't think that I ever knew a more generous and friendly man. He was cheerful and positive all the times I remember--and there were many growing up and visiting usually once a year. And as an urbanist I remember fondly his stories about paving city sidewalks with "mixed aggregate" (I remember that exact phrase from his lips). He was passionate about those things in city planning, and that must have rubbed off on me because I've been working on questions of the city street ever since! Love to all of you and a big toast, and a bigger prayer to a truly fine man.
Donna Ethington
02/27/2013
Dear Marilyn and family, Clare was a beloved member of our whole extended family. We always could rely on him for his honesty, his compassion, and his loyalty to his family. He focused on the needs of others rather than on his own. We will miss him but we will all cherish the memories of the good he brought to the world around him. Love, Donna
Marla Franklin
02/27/2013
Marilyn, we just read of Clare's death and want you to know our hearts are with you. You two had that unique ability to be strong individually, yet even stronger as a couple. We will miss seeing him as a part of the ISU athletic family, but his legacy will certainly continue. The memories of being with both of you at Allied functions and ISU games are good ones indeed. Bless you and your family at this difficult time.
EMORY EICHORN
02/27/2013
Marilyn, I remember sharing great times with my friend and team member at high school and ISU. I knew Claire's parents well and want your family to know that his old friends remember Claire as a fun, respected, and great guy that we all admired. When it is our time we all pray that our friends have these remembrances of us as well. God bless!
Emory Eichorn
MHS-49
ISU-53
Don and Shari Hamble
02/26/2013
Dear Marilyn and family. We are sorry for your loss. We're going to miss Claire. He was a grand man. I remember when you would come to MN. to visit, how Claire made us feel important and part of the family. That he was interested in us too. We always got a hug and a kind word. We love you guys and you are all in our prayers.
Martin Ethington
02/26/2013
What a wonderful uncle and good man. I remember the times Clare took at reunions or Grandmas house to speak to me. To ask how I was and what I was doing. He would look right at you like you were the only one in the room, listen to your answers and show that he cared. He didnt always agree, but never made you feel wrong. I always parted with a warm feeling.
Sandi & Arlo Hall
02/26/2013
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Linda Shelburg
02/26/2013
Marilyn & Family - I'm so very sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you.
Katie Erickson
02/26/2013
Grandpa,
I love you and miss you. I will never forget how small and yet how loved I felt each time I was enveloped in one of your big hugs.
I think of you whenever I smell pipe smoke. Though you gave yours up years ago, the sweet fragrance still brings with it fond memories of childhood Christmases spent with you.
I think of you when I see something that was made in Iowa, and I can't help but smile as I picture you excitedly explaining the process and finished product. You were always full of fun little tidbits about Iowa, classic movies, even the opera.
More importantly, you were proud of your family and made no excuses for it. You loved to comment on what a "good looking gang" we all were, and it warmed my heart to know that you thought so much of us. You were always interested in each of us, our career's and our futures. You wanted us to shoot for the stars, and you had no doubt we would get there.
You will be missed dearly.
Love,
Katie
Jim & Coleen Barnes
02/26/2013
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Jeremy Marr
02/25/2013
Ren and family, we pray for comfort during this difficult time, but also thankfulness for a life well lived.
Jerry Ferrell
02/25/2013
Marilyn and family again my condolences to you and the passing of Clare. I know it is always hard but you will have lots of good memories to get you through this difficult time. You are in my thoughts.
Cory Peters
02/25/2013
A great man who will be missed by many. My thoughts and prayers for peace and healing headed to all of the Russie clan.