Russell Kendall Soderquist
Marriages
Catharine
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 4 D Death Notice - April 19, 2015
Russell K. Soderquist, 91, Grand Junction, died April 17, 2015. Services are planned at a later date through Martin Mortuary. Mr. Soderquist was an electrical engineer. Survivors include his wife, Catharine. Memorial contriubutions to The Salvation Army.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 8A Obituary - May 11, 2015
Russell Kendall Soderquist
October 3, 1923 - April 17, 2015
Russell Kendall Soderquist, 91, a long-time resident of Grand Junction, Colorado, died April 17, 2015, in Grand Junction. A memorial service will be held for Mr. Soderquist on Thursday, May 14th at 10:30 a.m. at First Congregational Church in Grand Junction. Russell Soderquist was born in Marshalltown, Iowa on October 3, 1923, where he attended high school and took first prize at the State of Iowa music contest as a soloist and took honors by participating in a woodwind quartet playing the clarinet. In 1942 he was drafted into the US Army. He completed his basic training and was assigned directly to the US Army Corps of Engineers for transfer to the 1024th Engineer Treadway Bridge Company being trained on how to build temporary bridges for battle use. He saw active combat duty in France, Germany and Czechoslovakia during WWII. He was honorably discharged in 1946, being recognized and presented with the European Theater Ribbon and bronze star. Russell graduated from the University of Iowa with a BS degree in electrical engineering. He was the first student ever in the history of U of I College of Engineering to win the American Institute of Electrical Engineers contest competing against 22 engineering colleges by giving a presentation entitled, “A One Half Million Volt Selenium Rectifier”, of which he was involved in the design and construction. After graduation, Russ worked at Ross Manufacturing in Burlington, Iowa; National Electronics, Inc., and Industrial Tubes, Inc., Geneva, IL where he met and married his wife, Catharine (Smith). He worked at Humidair Corp, St. Charles, IL, and Bendix Corp, Denver, CO before moving to Grand Junction in 1969. He became the president and owner of Intermountain Printing and Stationary Company. He was also the founder, owner, and President of Small Business Advisors, Inc. (SBA), which had three divisions – Advanced Distributing Company (wholesale), Advanced Designs and Systems (engineering), and Advanced Microfilm Company. Russ was a member of American Institute of Electrical Engineers and American Institute of Radio Engineers; Director of Geneva Illinois Community Chest; member of Geneva Lion’s Club; Director of Men’s Foundation Community Hospital; Geneva, IL; VP and director of Chamber of Commerce in Geneva, IL; appointed to U of I College of Engineering Scholarship Committee; member and special rep of Denver’s Junior Achievement Program; member of Denver’s Skyline Lion’s Club; and a member of Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce. He was involved in the Music Box Society, National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, American Lock Collectors Association, West Coast Lock Collectors Association, and Association for Collectors of Old Educational Plates and American mugs. He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Grand Junction. Russell became a member of the Grand Junction Lion’s Club in 1969. He was most proud of the Grand Junction Lion’s Club – the other members, the volunteer efforts the club provides, the funds they raise, and the donations that were and are given into community projects. He was a recipient of the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellowship Award to honor his dedication to humanitarian service. Survivors include his wife, Catharine and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Lowell Soderquist, and a sister, Ruth Headley.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Grand Junction Salvation Army.
