OMAHA - Robert J. "Bob" Russell Sr., 81, of Omaha, formerly of Grand Island, died Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018, at The Heritage at Legacy in Omaha.
Celebration of Life will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St, Mary's Cathedral in Grand Island, with the Rev. Richard Piontkowski officiating. Inurnment will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery at Grand Island.
The family will be greeting family and friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island, with his parish family remembering him in prayer with the Rosary recited at 6. Apfel Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date.

Robert Joseph Russell Sr. was born March 29, 1937, in Grand Island, the son of Raymond J. and Dora Marie (Matthiesen) Russell. Bob grew up and received his education in Grand Island, attending St. Mary's Elementary School, Barr Junior High and Grand Island Senior High, graduating with the class of 1955.
He was united in marriage to Mary Lou Hindmarsh on March 4, 1957, in Wood River. The couple made their home in Grand Island, where he was employed by O.P. Skaggs. On March 30, 1964, Bob began his employment with Southern Nebraska Public Power District, retiring as a field engineer on Sept. 30, 1999. Bob recently moved to The Heritage at Legacy in Omaha, where he was known as "The Mayor of Heritage at Legacy." (Bob never meet a stranger.)
He was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral in Grand Island and Platt Duetsche Society.

Those left to cherish his memory include two sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Mary Pat Russell Jr. of Omaha and Donald and Angie Russell of Lincoln; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a brother, Richard Russell and special friend Jeanie Spiehs of Grand Island; a nephew, Todd and Shelly Russell of Doniphan; a niece, Keri Russell of Livingston, Mont.; sisters-in-law Rosemary Hindmarsh of Omaha, Alice Bellamy of Cairo and Marcia Hindmarsh of Fremont, Calif.; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, DeWayn and Betty Lewis of Omaha; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Mary Lou Russell, on May 11, 2013.