John Michael Russum
John Michael Russum, 63, of Winnemucca, died Sept. 8, 2009, following a complication from heart surgery.
John was born April 28, 1946, in Cottage Grove, Ore., to Dean and Marie Russum. He grew up in Drain, Ore., graduating from high school there before securing his bachelor's degree in forest engineering from Oregon State University. Following his graduation, he served four years in the Air Force as a surveyor.
John spent many years in the road construction industry, working first for St. Regis-Champion International as a road construction foreman from 1973 through 1986. From 1986 to 1989, he was road superintendent for Marion County in Salem, Ore., that was followed by four years as road master of Gilliam County in Condon, Ore., from 1989-1993.
Most recently, he was employed as the road superintendent for Humboldt County, from 1993 until his retirement in June of last year.
John also spent many years in emergency medical services, working from 1973 through 1986 in Glenwood, as EMS for a volunteer fire dept. From 1976 through 1985, he served as an EMS advisory board member for both Klickitat and Skamania counties. From 1977 through 1986, he also served as an EMT and from 1981 through 1985, as a CPR instructor.
John loved his family very much and derived his greatest pleasure from spending time with them. He is the father of three children and three grandchildren. He loved trains and odd cars, reading, scouring swap meets and garage sales, and watching his girls participate in the local 4-H tournament.
He also donated many hours as a member of the Humboldt Hospital Auxiliary's Poke and Peek Thrift Shop, where he was most recently serving as the shop's interim director.
John was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his daughter Denise of Bellingham; daughter Sara and husband Adam McFall and their children Andrew and Allison, of Glenwood; son Dean and wife Jessica, and their daughter Madison of Vancouver; his sister Sally and brother-in-law Jim Boylan of Salem, Ore.; and brother Gary and sister-in-law Gail Russum of Clarksville, Tenn. He also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, great- nieces and great-nephews.
