Luise Russell

Luise Kegel Russell, 89, of Apopka, Florida left us peacefully September 18th, 2020. Born May 26th, 1931, Luise was 1 of 5 siblings born to Karl Kegel and Marie Kegel (Mars) in Gommersheim Germany. She is preceded in death by both parents, 1 sister, and 2 brothers. Her surviving brother, Hermann Kegel and his wife, still reside in Germany. Luise never had children of her own, however, someone wisely said that ‘Luise adopted people wherever she went’. Inge Birkel Nunn, who lives in Kentucky, can witness to the influence and love that Luise provided.

Luise was born with a pertinacious spirit; she left home and entered the German workforce at the age of 15, where she was on her own until she met, and in 1957 married, her Airforce trumpet player Arthur Russell. After nuptials in Germany the two moved to Alabama, where Luise became an American Citizen in 1961. She was most proud of being an American and could not understand why immigrants would not speak the American language. Although intimately, she enjoyed speaking her native tongue with others, she chose English as her first language!

She and her husband found her life home in Apopka, Florida. Her journey here included retiring from an assembly position at General Electric and adding a “spark” to Orange Liquors as a bartender. Luise was a faithful member of many local lodges/clubs. Luise loved her friends, her birds, her music, her scotch, and her red nails; she avoided conflict, but had a gift for letting others know where her loyalties were. Luise referred even her dearest female friends by “role categories”: “my cleaning lady” (Julie), “the lady that comes to stay with me” (Marie), “my neighbor” (Joe), and “my friend” (feel free to fill in the blank - it covered many). A male’s role was to be himself; men had names. Phil was a knight.

The Fraternal Order of Eagles is where Luise met her companion of later years, Johann (Jack) Berger. The kindred two shared their love of music and social venues, along with German cuisine and stories of the old county. In 2007, Luise and Jack decided to have home in common as well. When Jack prepared to leave his life path, he insisted on being no other place than at home with Luise. Luise was a faithful member of Crossroads Church on Welch Road in Apopka, even as of late, when the importance of worship exceeded her physical infirmities. Luise never gave up; she knew where Home was, and she peacefully yielded.

Visitation for friends will be held on Sunday, September 27, 2020 from 12:30pm to 1:30pm with a Celebration of Life Service at 1:30pm at Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home Apopka 601 N. Park Avenue, Apopka 32712. Committal will follow at Glen Haven Memorial Park in Winter Park.