Russell Dahl

Jerome Russell Dahl was born in Missoula, Montana, on October 11, 1932, to Dorothy R. and Jerry B. Dahl. He left his body at age 83, on April 29, 2016, in Hot Springs. Russell’s warm heart made lasting impressions on humans and animals alike throughout his lifetime. He was a man of nature, lover of the written word, and compassionate giver. Pursuits of enjoyment for him included tending to vegetable and flower gardens, woodworking and carpentry, photography, books and music, cooking, and making others laugh through his joking nature and grin. He truly had friends anywhere he went. He shared almost all of his many homes with at least one pet, whether they be the snakes of his youth, dogs of early adulthood, or cats and fish in later years. He even had a great horned owl adopt him once when it had injured its wing, allowing Russell to feed it meat scraps from the local butcher, using a long feeding device he fashioned for the occasion. He knew the bird was ready to move on weeks later, when he discovered it had flown from one end of a screened porch to the other. The two took a drive to a more remote area, where he opened the station wagon’s back door. He said the owl did not hasten to fly away, but after each took a moment to recognize the other’s greatness and bid farewell, it took off into open sky. The gentle soul of his loved to travel, especially on extended road trips, where he visited all 48 of the continental states, Canada and Mexico, also making a family trip to Europe in the 1980s. A graduate of Leon County High School, he began his college days at Russellville’s Arkansas Tech, later earning a master’s in forestry from University of Montana, Missoula. During his summer breaks, Russ worked for an organization his father had introduced to him, the USDA Forest Service. Though he could have gone directly into a full-time position after earning his bachelor’s degree, he chose to volunteer for the U.S. Army, where he learned of and instructed others about Nike missiles. He then accepted a position with the Forest Service, first working in Idaho and Montana, later moving to Atlanta, Georgia, where he became husband to Mary Dahl, and the two soon had daughter, Lorien. In a short time, Russell adopted Mary’s daughter, Melanie, and the four moved to Reston, Virginia, upon his next promotion. While living in Littleton, Colorado, he was the Forest Service representative to the Bureau of Land Management team, and worked on interchanging lands in the western states. He retired from the Washington Office, Washington, D.C., in 1984, then moved to Hot Springs to be near his mother and younger brother, Gary, and to fish on the area lakes every chance he got. He was truly at home near water, especially the ocean. Also during the 1990s and early 2000s, Russell enjoyed working for First Step, teaching in the Adult Program, and serving as a job coach. In the late 90s, he became active with First United Methodist Church of Hot Springs. He learned pastoral care as a Stephen Minister, volunteered for midweek meals, and participated in several mission trips to help improve living situations in Mexico. He was a loved member there, until dementia made it too difficult for him to attend. He is survived by daughters Lorien Dahl and Melanie Chournos; their mother, Mary Dahl; two grandsons, Garrett Dahl and Kosta Chournos; his brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Janie Dahl; nieces; nephews; and stepdaughter, Raunda Rockett. He was predeceased by his parents; niece, Laura Dahl; wife, Lee Dahl; and many aunts, uncles and cousins from Wisconsin. Russell was cremated, and his ashes will join those of his parents, near the Dahl Memorial, named for his father, in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area, outside Fallsville, Arkansas. A visitation will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, at 214 Meadowlark Trail, Hot Springs. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either First Step, or any PBS channel. Lorien would like to thank his final care staff from Arkansas Hospice and with Seniors Comfort Assisted Living, along with longtime support, Julia Leal.