Kenneth Bruce Russell

Bruce was born in Oklahoma City to Gervaise “Red” Russell and Edna May (Smith) Russell, the second of their five children. When he was quite young they moved to the outer part of OKC where he and his siblings grew up running wild and free in the country. There were not many things they did not do or try to do. It was a wonderful way and time to grow up. In the summers, they spent time at their family cabin at Lake Texoma, fishing and swimming. He was forever after a “lake person!” His other great adventure growing up was traveling to Fort Collins, Colorado, in the summer with his beloved grandmother, Thelma “Mom” Russell. He learned to love Colorado, hunting, fishing and hiking in the beautiful Rocky Mountains, and visiting his aunt and uncle.

Bruce’s grandfather, “Pop” Russell, started a plumbing business in OKC in 1925, Russell Plumbing Co. In 1946 Red took over after “Pop” died and Bruce grew up knowing he would one day work there, too. He started around the age of 12 spending as much time at the shop as he could. He swept floors, sorted fittings and pipe, loaded and unloaded truckloads of materials for jobs - anything he could find to do. As he got older, he was always happy to be able to go to jobs with the plumbers and learned how to do just about anything related to the business. After high school graduation, Bruce attended Oklahoma State University, Okmulgee, studying in their plumbing program and finishing the entire six trimester course in just four trimesters. He then went to work at Russell Plumbing where he worked until the shop closed at the end of 2013 when he retired. He worked as a plumber until his father died in 1980, then as a plumber in the daytime, an estimator in the evenings and on weekends, and a co-owner of the company. At some point, he moved into the office exclusively but never minded getting his hands dirty at a jobsite if he was needed. And if that didn’t happen often enough, he was also the greatest handyman ever to family, friends and neighbors when called upon. He was never without a project and he was great at everything he did.

In the ninth grade, at age 14, Bruce met Donna Hansen in the cafeteria at school and they spent the rest of their lives together. They married on January 10, 1964, celebrating their sixty-first anniversary last January. In August, 1965 their daughter Kristy was born and not quite two years later in August, 1967, twins Karen and Kenny came along. It was a crazy few years when the children were young! But great in every way. Bruce was a wonderful, responsible, loving father. He was always involved in his children’s activities and many, many weekends were spent sitting at gymnastic meets or wrestling tournaments. Summer weekends were spent at the cabin at lake Texoma where he taught his kids and many of their friends to fish and water ski. Those weekends were a lot of hard work for him, but it brought him much joy. And fall weekends were spent at Oklahoma State football games. Once more, with all three kids, each with a friend.

Once the children were raised and gone from home, Bruce and Donna, with the help of his brother Bill and wife Mary, found their “happy place” in Estes Park, Colorado. For over thirty years they traveled to Estes, sometimes several times a year, to spend time in the beautiful mountains. They hiked many hundreds of miles, especially on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park, in all kinds of weather and always carrying at least two cameras! The last trip was in 2021 accompanied by Kenny, Kristy and Kristy’s husband Doug. They were happy their children and grandchildren and even a great grandchild also learned to love the mountains. Hopefully there will be Russells roaming Rocky Mountain National Park for many years to come!

Probably the most joyful time of Bruce’s life was when he became a grandfather! He always loved being around children and animals. And they loved him! Watching his children’s children grow up was one of the most fulfilling times in his life. And now Bruce was “Pop!” Attending ballgames, sports meets, tournaments, programs to watch the grands was always a fun experience. And, if it was possible to top the huge blessing of a large and loving and fun family, he was blessed even more as God sent him five amazing and wonderful great grandchildren. Bruce’s most valued earthly treasure was his family. Who could ask for even one thing more!

Bruce was predeceased by his parents, Red and Edna Russell, grandmother Thelma Russell, sister Beverly Russell, daughter Karen Tucker, mother-in-law and father-in-law Arline and Kenny Hansen, much loved sister-in-law Mary Russell, brother-in-law Phillip Waller. He is survived by his wife Donna Russell, brother Bill Russell, brother Bob Russell (Cathy), sister Barbara Free, daughter Kristy Bradley (Doug), son Kenny Russell (Colleen), son-in-law Scott Tucker, granddaughters Amanda Stake (Nic), Samantha Bradley, Megan Tucker, Julia Tucker, Tara Russell and grandsons David Russell (Sheriden) and Jacob Russell, great grandchildren Beckett Stake, Sutton Stake, Vann Russell, Bill Russell, and Kennedy Russell. Also brother-in-law Marty Hansen (Patti) and sister-in-law Laura Waller, and many nieces and nephews.

We would like to thank those aides at Jasmine Estates Memory Care who helped him daily showing him patience, respect, tenderness and genuine loving care, particularly those who could make him smile! Also, thanks to Bristol Hospice nurses Amanda, Debra and Jessie who tended to him and kept him as healthy and comfortable as possible. And much love and thanks to Bruce’s hospice aide Ayoni who made his day brighter every day!

A celebration of Bruce’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 15, at Matthews Funeral Home, 601 S. Kelly Ave., Edmond, OK 73003, with The Rev. Dr. Peter Balaban officiating.