Robert L. Russell

Robert "Bob" L. Russell, 93, of Rockford, was called into the Lord's presence around 10:00 p.m., Thursday, January 3, 2019, at Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center. Born on November 12, 1925, in Akron, OH, son of Samuel and Eva Cain Russell. In his early teens, he came to know Jesus Christ as his Lord. Married Delores (Dee) Dahlstrom of Rockford in Lima, Peru, on September 15, 1954. Together with his wife, served as missionary to Peru for over 25 years, working in the jungle on language analysis and scripture translation with Wycliffe Bible Translators and later in Lima in evangelistic outreach, counseling, and Bible teaching.

During home assignments in the U.S., he was employed at White-Sundstrand and W.A. Whitney. After returning from Peru, he worked at Woodward Governor. Bob graduated from Wadsworth High School (OH), Nyack Missionary Training Institute (NY), and Wheaton College (IL). He earned an M.A. degree in linguistics from Ohio State University. He authored a book on the coming of Christ titled Coming to Reign (published in 2001), other studies about the return of Christ and other Bible topics, and Interesting Features of the Amahuaca Language. He was a member of First Evangelical Free Church, Rockford, and Maranatha Sunday School Class. 

Bob is survived by wife, Delores; daughters, Lois (José) Tardío and Sarah (Courtenay) Burkhart; sons, David (Giselle) Russell and James Russell; grandchildren, Jameelah (Andrew) Preece, Caleb (Candace) Tardío, Jorin and Chloe Burkhart, and Samantha and Aaron Russell; great-granddaughter, Paisley; sisters, Donna Brubaker and Mary Lou (Gerald) Gabriele; many nephews, nieces, and cousins. Predeceased by parents; brother Jack, who died as a pilot with the U.S. Air Force during WWII; brother William, of Orlando, FL, who passed away five months ago; two sisters, who died in childhood; various in-laws.

"...While we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13)

Memorial service will be at 2:30pm with a visitation from 1:30pm until the service on Saturday, January 12, 2019, in the Chapel at Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center, 3470 North Alpine Road, Rockford 61114.  Private burial in Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery, Rockford.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to SonSet Solutions, P.O. Box 2709, Elkhart, IN 46515-2709 or Fairhaven.

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