Russel Daniel, 78, Le Mars

Published 9:26 am Monday, December 13, 2010

Russel D. Daniel, 78, of Le Mars, formerly of Merrill, Iowa, passed away Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa, surrounded by his family.

Daniel

A celebration of life service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars with the Rev. Merrill Muller of the Merrill United Methodist Church officiating. Private Inurnment will be at the Stanton Township Cemetery. Visitations with the family present will be from 1 p.m. until service time Sunday afternoon. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.carlsenfuneralhome.com.

Russel Duane Daniel was born May 28, 1932, on the family farm in Elkhorn Township, rural Kingsley, Iowa, to John M. and Gladys I. (Porsch) Daniel. Russ attended country schools near the family home and later graduated from Kingsley High School in 1949. Russ served his country during the Korean Conflict with the United States Army from April of 1953 until March of 1955. While in the service, Russ received extensive electronic training. Russ was united in marriage to Shyrl Harrison on July 5, 1953, at the Federated Church in Moville, Iowa. Russ and Shyrl farmed through two drought years before Russ began his 32 year career with IBM. He worked for IBM in Omaha, Neb., Columbus, Neb., and later was able to transfer to the Sioux City area. Russ retired from IBM in the late 1980’s. During his retirement, Russ had worked for Bytes and Nails in Sioux City, Westmar Senior Housing, and as a salesman at Le Mars Ford.

Russ was a longtime member of the Merrill United Methodist Church and had served on the council, sang in the choir, taught adult Sunday School and enjoyed Tri-M. He enjoyed singing with the Floyd Valley Barbershop Chorus, Sertoma, Merrill Community Club, American Legion, and playing softball in the church league. Russ also enjoyed playing 500 and going bowling. Russ and Shyrl were tremendous supporters of extracurricular activities through the school. They enjoyed going to watch the grandchildren at music and sporting events. Russ was instrumental with establishing girls softball in the Le Mars Community School District. Traveling has always been a passion for Russ and Shyrl. They enjoyed taking the kids camping when they were young; always making a point of visiting as many states as possible. In later years, they enjoyed pulling their camper throughout the United States.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Shyrl of Le Mars; three children: the Rev. Cherie Daniel of Freeborn, Rod Daniel of Merrill and Audrey Schultz and her husband Lee of Merrill; grandchildren: Robert Fensterman of Duluth, Austin Daniel of Glendale, Ariz., Matthew Schultz and his wife Heather of Caldwell, Idaho, Andrew Schultz and his wife Jessica of Montgomery, Ill., Sarah Schultz and her fiancé Brian Toth of Westboro, Wis., and Rachel Van Der Maaten and her husband Joshua of Holland, Mich.; a sister, Marjorie Wych and her husband Joe of Akron, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Kathleen “Kay” Daniel of New Jersey; in-laws: Don Harrison of Lawton, Iowa, Carol Green of Morehead City, N.C., Delores Harrison of Sioux Center, Iowa, and Dale Harrison and his wife Norma Jean of Omaha, Neb.; and several nieces and nephews.

Russ was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Donald; a brother in infancy; a grandson, Phillip Fensterman; and in-laws: Marian Harrison, John R. Green and Morris Harrison.