Obituaries : James (Jim) Russell

James (Jim) Russell, 82, passed away on Sunday, August 10, 2025. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:30 a.m. Friday, August 22, 2025 at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Urbandale. Visitation with Jim's family will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, August 21, 2025 at McLaren's Resthaven Chapel in West Des Moines. Burial with military honors will take place 11 a.m. Saturday, August 23, 2025 at the Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton, Iowa. 

Jim was born on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1943 in Jefferson, Iowa. He was the son of Jack (J.W.) and Letha (Adelaide Daily) Russell. He started school in Coon Rapids, moved to Jefferson in 3rd grade and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1961. He attended State College of Iowa in Cedar Falls from 1961 to 1964 before graduating from the Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science in Milwaukee in 1965.

While serving his funeral director's apprenticeship in Osceola, Iowa he was called to be drafted in the Vietnam era. Jim enlisted in the Iowa Air National Guard, 133rd Tac Con Flt., in Fort Dodge. He served there and at the USAF Lakeland AFB in Texas and Keesler AFB from July 25, 1967 until October 3, 1974. He was an E-7 when he received his honorable discharge, having served for over 11 years.

He served funeral homes in Osceola, Waterloo, Onawa and in Vinton, where he owned and operated a group of three funeral homes: Vinton, Blairstown and Belle Plaine from 1971 to 1992. Jim worked for Wilbert Vault in Iowa and Nebraska from 1993 until 1998 and then for the Watts Vault & Monument Company until his retirement in 2018.

Jim and Marcia (Fagan, Holm) were married April 8, 1968 and later divorced. Jim married Patricia (Kearns, Boddicker) on January 1, 1990. They made their home at Lake Panorama, Panora from 1992 until 2013 when they moved to Johnston, Iowa.  

Jim served in many capacities including at his church, on various civic and community boards and offices, a member of the Vinton American Legion Post 0057, was a 50+ year member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association and Morning Star Masonic Lodge #159 in Jefferson, the Panora Masonic Lodge #121, and taught funeral directors continuing education for many years. Jim's unsurpassed love for family activities and celebrations was his top priority. His favorite activities included boating, par 3 golf courses, travel, card playing and sharing a cocktail. 

Jim is survived by his wife, Pat Russell; children, Daimon Russell, Alexa (Brett) Bonomo, Matt (Tetsuko) Boddicker, Lucas (Heather) Boddicker and Jessica Boddicker (Alex Ricard); grandchildren, Rachel (Stuart) Lund, Courtney Russell, Andrea (Jimmy) Dickerson, Dylan Russell, Bella, Joey and Gia Bonomo, Jasmine (Kolton) Stephas, Brooke (Cole) Stephenson, Adam Boddicker, Brian (Josie) Boddicker and Gabe Bolanos; great-grandchildren, Trystan, Trent, Felicity, Thor, Peyton, Jeremiah and Olivia; sister, Mary J. Russell; brother, John (Deblyn) Russell; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and stepmother, Mabel Russell. 

Jim will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. As well as countless others who were also blessed by his endless expressions of kindness, compassion, encouragement, and boundless love. His generosity was typically shared via awesome hugs, simple words of positivity, and sharing of food, especially donuts, and always "Dessert First" for any meal. Jim's unmatched passion for taking, editing, enhancing, and ultimately sharing beautiful lasting memories through his love of photography was epic. James Douglas Russell was one of a kind. God bless him as he blessed us.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Jim's family for a future American flag memorial placement in an area park.