Russell E. Buckardt

Russell E. Buckardt, 93, of Ottawa, passed away Thursday, January 17, 2019 at LaSalle County Nursing Home.

Funeral Services will be at 1 pm, Tuesday, January 22 at Ottawa Funeral Home, with Pastor Elmer John Buckardt officiating. Visitation will be from 11 am to 1 pm, prior to the services, at the funeral home. He will be buried in Oakwood Memorial Park with Military Honors.

Russell was born October 15, 1925, in DeKalb to Elmer and Gladys Marie (Larson) Buckardt. He married Joan Hughes on March 11, 1955 in LaSalle; she passed away May 22, 1996. Russell retired from Rock Island Railroad as a supervisor. He was a past member of the Masonic Temple. Russell was treasurer for the American Legion and received the hightest rank of Pilgrim in the Moose Lodge. Russell enjoyed socializing and never met a stranger; he had friends everywhere he went.

He is survived four children, Brian (Angie) Buckardt of Mulberry, Florida; Tanya (Anthony) De La Garza of Oakland, Arkansas; Valerie Stone of Largo, Florida; and Melanie Buckardt of Ottawa; seven grandchildren, Jared (Allison) Buckardt, Paul (Jennifer) Chadwich, Nicole (Jeff) Lyons, Tara De La Garza, Teresa (Randie) De La Garza, Tina (Tim) Casey, and Kristie (Marco) Leal; eleven great-grandchildren, Makenzie, Blake, Natalie, Zoe, Jacob, Daniel, Joseph, Mathew, Tiara, Abbott, and Henleigh; and his siblings, Everett (Mimi) Buckardt, Elmer John (Karen) Buckardt, and Charlene Seville.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 41 years, Joan; and a grandson, Richard Buckardt.

Memorials may be directed to Moose Heart for Kids Charities, at www.moosecharities.org