Russ was born July 25, 1940 in Lens to the late Gerald and Alice (Rocque) Dufek, and was a 1958 graduate of Oconto High School. He married the former Joanne Schmit April 15, 1961 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Oconto. Russ was a police officer for the city of Oconto for 32 years until retirement on June 1 of this year. He also operated American Family Insurance in Oconto with his father and owned the agency from 1977 until selling it in 1995. Because of his enthusiasm for business, Russ did tax preparation work in his later working years. He was a member of the Oconto County Board of Supervisors for 16 years and served on the Lands, Forests, Parks, & Recreation Board as well as the Human Services Board.
Russ was a member of Holy Trinity Parish, Oconto. He was a very active member of the Oconto Elks Lodge 887 since 1982, was active in the scholarship committee, and served as Exalted Ruler of the Lodge five times. Russ was a trustee of the Lodge and was very instrumental in building a new lodge, after the previous one was destroyed by fire. He was to be District Deputy of the Elks, but was unable to fulfill his duty, due to health reasons. Russ found great joy in working with kids, and manifested this through being a Little League coach for many years as well as being an active member of the Oconto County Partnership and Volunteers in Probation Program. Russ loved the outdoors, and the time he would spend in the Northwoods. He was an avid golfer, bowler, and hunter.
He will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his wife, Joanne; his children and their spouses, Vicki and Jeff Krein, Burlington; Mike and Cindy (Groll) Dufek and Chris and Dennis Dionne, Oconto; and Sandy and Jim Konyn, Abrams; his grandson, Devon Dionne, Oconto; three step-grandchildren, Dennis (Amy) Dionne, Oconto; Donald (Gamma) Dionne, San Diego, CA; Darin Dionne, Lena; a brother, David, Shawano; four sisters, Karen (Marshall) Robitski, Fountain, CO; Barbara (Gerald) Bunker, DePere; Wendy Isakson, Shawano; Teri (Gary) Foster, Pensacola, FL; aunts and uncles, Carl and Phyllis Dufek and Lorraine and Leonard Steffel, Lena; William "Otsie" Stewart, Oconto; other relatives and many friends.
Russ was further preceded in death by a special grandparent, Allice Rocque, and by an uncle and aunt, Eben and Frances Dufek.
The family received relatives and friends at Holy Trinity Parish, St. Joseph Site, Park Avenue, Oconto from 9:30 until 11:15 a.m. Thursday August 3, 2000. Elks Memorial service 10 a.m. Mass of Resurrection was 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Church. The Rev. Fr. David Ruby officiated. Private family interment was held. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, a memorial fund has been established.
Ackerman Funeral Directors, Oconto assisted the family. Raymond B. Ackerman, Jr., Funeral Director.