Wm. Russell “Rusty” Dowell, 96, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2022, with his sons Randy and Rick by his side.
Rusty was born in Carthage, Illinois on March 20, 1926, to Donald and Helen (nee Bradshaw) Dowell. He grew up in Fort Madison, Iowa where his love of music began as he played the trumpet and French horn throughout Jr High and High School. He enjoyed a brief career in his teen years on the Santa Fe Railroad with his father prior to serving in the US Navy during WWII. He served from May 1944 to June 1946 in the Pacific on the USS Dawson and had an incredible sense of pride for serving his country. After returning from WWII, Rusty’s greatest honor was carrying the colors for Admiral Halsey.
He then attended Carthage College where he obtained his teaching degree, played football, and participated in track as well as the Drum and Bugle Corp. Rusty enjoyed a long rewarding career as a high school math teacher & coach for football and track.
He met his wife Colleen Nancy Kelly when they were both teachers and married April 13, 1957. Rusty says it was love at first sight and especially knew Colleen was a keeper when she ate all her supper! Both he and Colleen were creative souls. She painted both oils and watercolors and he carved wood carvings of various birds and walking sticks. They both loved nature and the Northwoods of Wisconsin, and they would spend every summer up there. Their zest for life even took them to the doors of Hollywood as extras in two movies! Rusty and Colleen were married for 64 years before Colleen passed away April 25, 2021.
Rusty was instrumental in raising his boys to be good respectful men. He taught them the value of a dollar, and how to have a sense of good old ingenuity to fix anything that broke.
Rusty loved his country and was an avid historian. He participated in the Civil War Roundtable and had many books on the Civil War, WWII, the history of the Santa Fe Railroad, and Blackhawk Indian culture. His study of genealogy was impeccable, and he passed down his knowledge of his family tree dating back to the 1400s. He was a man of many interests and he had thousands of stories to tell in his 96 years. He was always outgoing, loved to do things and made friends with everyone he met! He was loved by so many, and will be greatly missed by all who knew him
Rusty is survived by his two sons, Randy, 62 (Karen) Dowell, and Rick, 57 (Lisa) Dowell, his six grandchildren, who affectionately called him Bubba, Lauren (Jeff) DeHaan, Jonathan Dowell, Chris (Mindy) Dowell, Holly, Alyssa Dowell, and Logan Dowell, and two great grandchildren, who affectionately called him Big Bubba, Carson & Avery DeHaan.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Colleen Nancy (nee Kelly) Dowell on April 25, 2021, his father Donald in 1994, his mother Helen in 1983, and his only sister Sydney (Jim) Knapp in March 2017.
Visitation will be Thursday, August 11, 2022, from 10 a.m. to time of memorial service and military honors at 12 p.m. all at DeFiore Funeral Home, 10763 Dundee Road, Huntley.
For more information, please call 847-515-8772 or online condolences can be directed to www.defiorefuneral.com.
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Our deepest sympathy.
He always liked seeing my dogs when we walked them and invited us in to see Colleen’s paintings. Beautiful couple and all talented . Especially son who did carousel horse he showed us. Prayers
I taught many years with Rusty at Forest View HS. Rusty was a great teacher and story teller, real "salt of the earth" type of person. I am lucky enough to have a cane that I will always treasure and think of Rusty. My condolences.
Randy, Pat and I wish to express our deepest sympathy. God Bless!
There was no one like Rusty. He taught us all so much.
I taught many years with Rusty at Forest View HS. Rusty was a great teacher and story teller, real "salt of the earth" type of person. I am lucky enough to have a cane that I will always treasure and think of Rusty. My condolences.
I was a math student of Rusty’s 1966-68 at Forest View. Being a cheerleader allowed us to share his love of football. My homework assignments were copying football plays on cards I acquired a love of math because of Rusty although I could not sustain it at a college level I thoroughly enjoyed our friendship. Much condolences to the family
Rusty and Colleen lived next to my grandparents Bruce and Dolores Haldeman on Chestnut Ave in Arlington Heights. I have fond memories of them as a kid. They always let me come over to pet their dog and would chat over the fence in the backyard when I was outside. Truly great people.❤️