RUSSELL E. DARBY, 91 BELVIDERE - Russell E. Darby, 91, of Belvidere, IL, died peacefully Friday evening, June 7, 2013, in Northwoods Care Center after a long illness. Russ was born in Belvidere, IL, on July 15, 1921, the only son of Ebert and Louise (Peters) Darby. Russ was a veteran of World War II, serving in the VRF2 Navy Pilot Group. He earned his pilot wings at Corpus Christi, TX, where he married his high school sweetheart, Elsie Klaas on November 4, 1943. He attained the rank of Ensign Lt. JG and flew aircraft stateside for repositioning for combat in the Pacific and European Theaters. Russ spent most of his working career as a Dairyman; then was the custodian at Belvidere High School in retirement years. Russ and Elsie enjoyed many years in their beloved north-woods home in Three Lakes, WI; recently returning to Belvidere to be near their family. He enjoyed fishing, playing cards and he liked to tinker. His family will remember him for his love and guidance as a "Family Man". Russ is loved and will be missed by his wife of sixty-nine years, Elsie of Belvidere; children, Jack (Kay) Darby of Woodstock, IL, Linda (Jesse) Stratton of Shawano, WI, David (Susan) Darby of St. Charles, IL, Jan (David) Mills of Rockford; grandchildren, Brett Darby, Melissa Darby, Laura Braatz, Julie Efram, Katherine (Conan) Locke, Jason Darby, Bethany (Matt) Decker, Lisa (Brandon) Eckardt; eight great-grandchildren. Russ is preceded in death by his parents. Russ and his family wish to express sincere gratitude to Dr. Khan and the wonderful staff at OSF St. Anthony. Russ was also grateful for the compassionate care he received during his short stay at Northwoods Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday June 11, in First United Methodist Church, 610 Bonus Avenue, Belvidere, IL, with the Rev. James Crone officiating. Burial will be in Belvidere Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to service time on Tuesday at the church. Arrangements by Buck-Wheeler-Hyland Funeral Home, 218 W. Hurlbut Ave., Belvidere, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Belvidere First United Methodist Church Building Fund in his name. To light a candle or to share a memory, please visit www.buckwheelerhyland.com.
If you click on the link above it will take you to a power point slideshow of pictures of my Grandpa that I put together.
My Grandpa tended to be on the quiet side. But he was funny. He made the best waffles and hated to be beaten in card games even by his youngest Granddaughter. "For the cripes sake," he would say while rubbing his bald head and staring at his un-matching Tick hand. "For cryin out loud" "While I'll be", "Weeeeell, I dunno Else". I can hear him as if it were yesterday. He had an awesome mustache. He loved to fish and he loved to take his children, his children-in-law's that were his children, his grandchildren, and his great grandchildren fishing. He could take a fish off a hook with one hand. He never needed to use a rag to hold the fish, his hands toughened by years of delivering milk, cleaning tanks, fishing, tinkering, building.
At my Grandpas funeral, my Uncle Jack said "Leo probably met Dad in heaven with a pole and they're probably out in a boat somewhere catchin some crappies". Leo was my Grandpa's best friend. They lived down the road from each other in Three Lakes, Wisconsin, where he and my Grandma lived for my entire childhood. It was their retirement and it was how I will always remember him. Strong, invincible, immortal.
He and my Grandma were married for 69 years. The thought of being alone after 69 years with someone makes my heart ache. She took care of him, and he took care of her. She helped him maintain his independence and stay in their home until just a few months ago when her health also began to fail and the toll of trying to take care of my Grandpa had reduced her to a wheel chair. She gave him everything, her whole life, she loved him with everything she had for as long as she had.
He LOVED his family and we loved him. We will always remember him, his life, who he was. He was Grandpa, he was Dad, he was Russ, and Russell. If I can live my life half as well as he lived his, I will consider it a life well lived.
I love you Grandpa.
My Grandpa tended to be on the quiet side. But he was funny. He made the best waffles and hated to be beaten in card games even by his youngest Granddaughter. "For the cripes sake," he would say while rubbing his bald head and staring at his un-matching Tick hand. "For cryin out loud" "While I'll be", "Weeeeell, I dunno Else". I can hear him as if it were yesterday. He had an awesome mustache. He loved to fish and he loved to take his children, his children-in-law's that were his children, his grandchildren, and his great grandchildren fishing. He could take a fish off a hook with one hand. He never needed to use a rag to hold the fish, his hands toughened by years of delivering milk, cleaning tanks, fishing, tinkering, building.
At my Grandpas funeral, my Uncle Jack said "Leo probably met Dad in heaven with a pole and they're probably out in a boat somewhere catchin some crappies". Leo was my Grandpa's best friend. They lived down the road from each other in Three Lakes, Wisconsin, where he and my Grandma lived for my entire childhood. It was their retirement and it was how I will always remember him. Strong, invincible, immortal.
He and my Grandma were married for 69 years. The thought of being alone after 69 years with someone makes my heart ache. She took care of him, and he took care of her. She helped him maintain his independence and stay in their home until just a few months ago when her health also began to fail and the toll of trying to take care of my Grandpa had reduced her to a wheel chair. She gave him everything, her whole life, she loved him with everything she had for as long as she had.
He LOVED his family and we loved him. We will always remember him, his life, who he was. He was Grandpa, he was Dad, he was Russ, and Russell. If I can live my life half as well as he lived his, I will consider it a life well lived.
I love you Grandpa.
In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.