Russell James Viele
Marriages
Lucille Harmon - June 25, 1960
Obituaries
Steamboat Today - February 4, 2012
Russell James Viele died Jan. 25, 2012, at the Colorado State Veterans Nursing Home in Rifle. He was 79.
He was born March 18, 1932, in Oak Creek to Torance Jefferson “Jeff” and Helen E. (Reid) Viele. At that time the family was running the Bell Saw Mill & Lumber Co. on North Hunt Creek. They moved to the Yellow Jacket Pass area and lived in the Pleasant Valley for a few years. In 1946, they moved back to the “home” place on North Hunt Creek.
In 1952, he enlisted in the Marines. He was based in Camp Lajoon, where he attended mechanics school. He served a 15-month tour in Japan and then returned to the states to serve the remainder of his active duty, and then five more years as a reserve.
On June 25, 1960, he married Lucille Harmon. They lived in Kit Carson, where their daughter Fay was born. In 1962, they returned to Yampa, where their son Karey was born. Ten years later, their daughter Laura was born. They resided in the town of Yampa from then on, where he ran the “Yampa Garage” for a few years. After selling the garage, he began logging and operated a saw mill on the home place on North Hunt Creek, along with his family until 1990.
Russell enjoyed the outdoors and liked to hunt and fish. He was a hard worker and had many talents, including a knack for mechanics. He could pretty much fix anything. He was a family man and enjoyed spending time with his grandkids. He loved two kinds of pie — “hot” and “cold.” When he had a spare moment, he liked to spend his time helping his brothers Dutch, Hal and Gary at the ranch.
Russell is survived by his brothers Floyd (“Dutch”), Hal and Gary, of Yampa, and Bruce (Margaret), of Missouri; a sister, Ima (“Imy”), of Yampa; his son Karey (Tracy), of Yampa; his daughters Fay Martin and Laura (Rick) Duhaime, of Colorado Springs; and nine grandchildren, Brent, Aaron, Caleb, Tacey, Shelby, Kyle, Alex, Michael and Rachael.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Wilton; a sister, Betty; and his wife, Lucille.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Colorado State Veterans Nursing Home in Rifle, in care of the Rifle Funeral Home. Online condolences at www.riflefuneral
home.com.
