Joseph Thorald Russell

JOSEPH THORALD RUSSELL Obituary - April 13, 1921 - March 10, 2023 Joseph Thorald Russell of Minneapolis, age 101 years, died on March 10, 2023 in the presence of family. Beloved husband of Carola Ann Russell (née Loonan) †. Loving father of Ann Brown † (Randy) of Long Prairie, Patricia Evans (Richard) of Alexandria, Virginia, Mary Winters (Kendall) of Falcon Heights, Margaret (Peggy) Russell (William Dane) of Minneapolis, Joseph James Russell (Barbara) of Knife River, Kathleen Russell (Joyce Zifko) of Washburn, Wisconsin, and Carol Vastveit (Johan) of Finnøy, Norway. Cherished grandfather of 14 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren. Predeceased by his sister, Mary Lorraine Voelker and brothers, Angus Sterling and John Evan Russell and by his parents Angus and Yvonne Russell (née Gareau). Joe will be remembered by his many cousins, nephews, and nieces. Joe was born at the Hôtel Dieu hospital, in Cornwall, Ont. and held Canadian citizenship. He grew up on farms on the U.S. side of the St. Lawrence River near Massena, N.Y. He became a U.S. citizen on June 26, 1931. In 1942, he studied Industrial Engineering at the University of Minnesota and joined the U.S. Army Air Corps ROTC. He was commissioned a 2ND LT in Feb. 1943 and trained as a co-pilot. In Oct. 1944 Joe was assigned to fly the B-24 "Liberator" out of Venosa, Italy (15th Air Force, 485th Bomb Group, 828th Squadron) and completed 18 missions. He returned to the U.S. and married Carola Ann Loonan, June 16, 1945 in Easton, MN. He was honorably discharged as a 1ST LT, earning the Air Medal with cluster, and returned to complete his B.S. degree at the U of M. Joe and Carola made their home in S.E. Minneapolis, raising seven children and finding community in St. Lawrence Catholic Church and local organizing and politics. Joe worked as an engineer at Honeywell; he and Carola acquired and maintained rental duplexes in S.E. Joe will be remembered for his keen interest in people; his tenants from all over the world, his cousins in Canada, neighbors at Ruth Lake in Emily, MN, and the young people he mentored at the St. Lawrence Newman Center. His gift to all was his strong faith and love of connecting people and keeping communication going ... for a lifetime. Once a friend, always a friend. Visitation 10:00-11:00 am and Mass of Christian Burial 11:00am will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at Carondelet Village Chapel, 525 Fairview Ave S., St. Paul, MN, 55116. Interment will follow on 11:30 am on Sunday, March 19, 2023 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery in Easton, MN. For those who wish, memorial donations to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Ministries Foundation, 1884 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105 or online at csjministriesfoundation.org would be appreciated by the family.

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Joseph Thorald Russell

April 13, 1921 - March 10, 2023

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