Joseph W. Russel

Joseph Wolcott Russel, Papa Joe, 90 of Kirkland, died peacefully surrounded by family on Wednesday, September 9, 2015 of acute respiratory failure and pneumonia. Joe was born October 15, 1924 in Los Lunas, New Mexico, the son of the late Wolcott Lord and Madge (Nix) Russel.

Joe married Marianne Knudsen on October 28, 2006 at Holy Family Church in Kirkland. He was an active member of Holy Family Catholic Church and served as Chair of the Parish Council and then moved to the Finance committee. Joe was a huge supporter of both Holy Family School and Parish.

Joe graduated from the US Naval Academy and served in the Navy for 31 years retiring as a Rear Admiral in 1976. His long and successful career included command of the USS Nathan Hale, briefing President Gerald Ford, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and other members of the National Security Council, and implementing many changes to both hardware and procedures for missile testing and launching which remain in use still today. Joe worked at Boeing Aerospace Company for 14 years as a Systems Analysis Manager and then as a Defense Consultant. After Boeing he worked at H & R Block finally retiring in his seventies.

Joe was an avid horseman and the proud owner of Dusty, an American Quarter horse he owned for 16 years. Joe enjoyed playing bridge and was a huge fan of the Seattle Seahawks and the Mariners.

He is survived by Marianne, his wife of 9 years; son David Wolcott Russel and wife Theresa; daughters, Laura Pendergraft and husband Kelly, Jeanine Russell, Susan Russel and Madeline Russel; step sons, Kevin Lamb, William Lamb and wife Tina, and Patrick Lamb and wife Sherry; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren and a brother Dan Russel and wife Flora.

He is preceded in death by his daughter, Colleen Russel, great-granddaughter Olivia Hudson, brother, Mark Russel, and his wife of 57 years, Margaret Peggy (Van Hecke) Russel.