Robert (Bob) Lee Russell
- Robert (Bob) Lee Russell was born on July 16, 1935, to Lila and Walter Russell. He died in Poulsbo on August 26, 2023, at the age of 88. As he did throughout his life, he went first, before his family, to PCS (Permanent Change of Station) and prepare places for his family: his beloved wife of 64 years, Mary Russell, his children: Marie Courtney (Howard), Diane Russell, Steven Russell (Jayne); his grandchildren: Bradley Kochanski (Sara), Stephanie Whitt (Timmy). He is also survived by four beautiful great grandchildren, two nephews, his sister-in-law and three nephews and a niece.
His beloved mother, a schoolteacher, died just before Christmas in a car accident as they were driving to California for the holiday; he was 12 years old. Perhaps this is why he went out of his way to make the celebration of Christmas so special. He went to live with his father on his goat farm until he moved in with his older brother, Rollin, (d. 2003). He joined the JROTC program in high school and upon graduation, entered the US Army where he proudly served for 25 years, retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer 4. He was attached to military counterintelligence/intelligence divisions during the Cold War and was stationed in Germany (Bremerhaven, Heidelberg, Mannheim, Munich - 2 PCSs), Italy, Washington DC, North Carolina, Alabama, New Mexico, as well as various locations in the Midwest. Shortly after the Berlin Wall was erected and the Cold War escalated, he was sent to Oberammergau, where he learned to speak German fluently. He served in Vietnam. His last duty station was Bremerton, Washington, with the Defense Investigative Service. He retired in 1983 and worked as a civilian with the Defense Investigative Service until 2000. Thereafter, he worked for several years as a bailiff with Kitsap County Superior and District Courts.
He was an amazing man, a renaissance man, a hard working man. He was a talented florist in high school and beyond, and supplemented his military pay working in a floral shop to support his young family. He continued to make floral arrangements throughout his life, gifting them to others. He was passionate about traveling, camping, boating, fishing, cooking, music, and raising orchids. He was a talented wood worker, stained glass and mosaic artist. He was a beautiful skier and imparted his love for the sport to his entire family. He served on the Ski Patrol and as President of the Munich International Ski Club. He loved his wife dearly, and even in the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease, he had the strength of that love to be able to express to her how much he loved her. He relished meeting people, had a great sense of humor, and was kind and compassionate.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 14th at the Stone Chapel in Poulsbo, at 11:00 am, with a rosary service before the funeral mass at 10:30 am. In remembrance of Bob’s life, the family asks that a charitable donation be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. An online memorial can be seen at www.poulsbomortuary.com