Russell N. Stroud
Died April 28, 2015
BRADENTON, Fla. — Russell Nielsen Stroud, 72, lost his very
courageous battle with cancer on April 28, 2015 at his home in Bradenton,
Florida. Russell loved to be with family and friends and was surrounded by them,
both in his life and at his death. Russell was born on March 14, 1943 in
Portland, Oregon, to Russell A. and Marion Nikkoline (Nielsen) Stroud, both
deceased.
Russell is survived by his loving wife of nearly 17 years,
Marjorie (Begley); five children, Russell Nielsen II (Jennifer), Kenneth William
(Jessica), Marion Jane (Justin) Schmidt, Thomas Clinton and Jennifer Lynne
(David) Siegel; two stepchildren, Leah (Jason) Drabant and Steve Kish II;
adoring sister, Julie “Nikki” (Hugh) Acosta; niece, Janis (Dan Ninivaggi)
Acosta; and 14 beautiful grandchildren.
Russell graduated from Hillsdale College in 1965 and
immediately began working for Ford Motor Company.
In 1969 he joined the U.S. Army and achieved the rank of
Sergeant First Class in the elite U.S. Army Special Forces Airborne Ranger
(Green Berets). He was on active duty from 1969 to 1970 and in the Reserves
until 1976. He finished his military career by performing a parachute drop into
the Grand Traverse Bay during the 1976 National Cherry Festival.
While in the Reserves he continued working at Ford Motor
Company until 1983 when he took a position at the then struggling Chrysler
Corporation. He remained at Chrysler until 1996 where he advanced to the
position of vice president of Powertrain Division. He left Chrysler to become
president of Thyssen North America and in 2001 moved to New Venture Gear as vice
president of procurement and supply. He moved from NVG to Collins & Aikman
in 2003 as senior vice president of global supply chain management. He retired
from his professional life in 2005.
He and Marjorie spent many years traveling and enjoying
retirement. He was a car collector extraordinaire and enjoyed being a member of
many car clubs, including the Classic Car Club of America, the Studebaker
Drivers Club and the Suncoast British Car Club, just to name a few. He loved
boating and gardening and was a member of the Cygnet Yacht Club racing
radio-controlled East Coast 12-Meter One Design sailboats.
His family is very thankful for the many friends who were so
supportive during his journey over the last year. He felt very blessed to have
such wonderful friends and most especially for the beautiful redhead. He will be
missed by both family and friends, and he will live in our hearts forever.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 9, at Bethany
Lutheran Church located at 220 W. Nagonaba St., Northport. Visitation will take
place from 9 a.m. to the start of the 11 a.m. service. Burial will follow at
Leelanau Township Cemetery. Pastor Tom Otis will officiate.
Russell asked that in lieu of flowers donations be made to
Bethany Lutheran Church, where he was serving as president of the church
council.
Please share memories with Russell’s family below:
Dear Stroud Family -- Margorie, Russie, Kenny, Marion, Tom and Jenny, and Nikki and family --
ReplyDeleteWe send our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to you on the loss of your dear Russ. We had wanted to contact each of you individually this past wk, but it's a busy time here on the farm, with many projects both outside and at home, plus a number of funerals of friends and family in the past week or so. It all has been the loss of too many good lives for sure, with the passing of Russ being most profound for all of us.
You can be very proud of him in the way he lived his life and in his handling of this huge challenge during the past year. He is to be commended for the care he took in raising his family despite a demanding career and challenging conditions.The support from all of you of your dad, husband and brother during his challenge was truly inspiring.
We treasure all the good times with Russ for so many years that we enjoyed our cousin connection, and regret not having enough in the last few months.
May Russ now rest in peace in the loving presence of our Lord, and in the company of his dear parents Russ and Marion. You all are in our continuing thoughts and prayers.
With love and heartfelt sorrow,
Judy, Glenn and family
To the Stroud family, especially Nikki, we are very sorry for your loss. We enjoyed meeting Rus, his wife and friends, and appreciated those times together. We are thinking of you and Hugh during this time and wish you only the best.
ReplyDeleteDavid and Jackie Amos
To the Russell Stroud Family, I had the opportunity to work with Russ during his years at Chrysler. He was a great Manager, Mentor and Leader. He helped me numerous times during my career which I truly appreciate. In addition, he was an out of the box thinker who was always looking for new and better ways to make a difference. I will always remember him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
ReplyDeleteRobert Sarkella