Russell Laird Daniels
August 5, 1920 — August 23, 2013
Russell Laird Daniels, 93, died Friday, August 23, 2013 at St Luke’s Hospital from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. Monday, August 26, 2013, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion. Graveside Service: 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 27, 2013, with Military Honors at Springville Cemetery, followed by a luncheon at the Springville United Methodist Church.
Laird was born August 5, 1920, on the family farm north of Springville, IA to Leone Johnson Daniels and Charles Wesley Daniels. He attended school in Springville before moving with his family to Norway, IA where he graduated in 1937.
In 1941 he joined the Army Air Corps, now known as the United States Air Force. As a member of the 69th bomb squadron he saw active duty in the South Pacific serving as a mechanic on the B-26 and B-17 bomber aircraft. He earned the rank of SMSGT and received an Honorable Discharge in 1945. Laird was a prolific writer and kept detailed journals of his military service. Each volume is filled with stories and anecdotes covering his four years of active duty. He was also involved in the Air Force Reserves and Civil Air Patrol when he returned stateside.
Laird attended Coe College on the GI Bill, graduating in 1948, with a degree in Economics. He later went on to the University of Iowa where he received his Master’s degree. He began his 32 year teaching career in the fall of 1948 at the high school in Wapello, IA. He also coached girls’ basketball while at Wapello. Laird was invited and able to attend four of the class reunions given by his first group of students. In the fall of 1950 Laird moved on to Osage, IA where he taught for two years.
April of 1952 his dream job opened up when he received a letter from the Cedar Rapids School District offering him a job teaching American Heritage at Roosevelt High School. He taught at Roosevelt until 1957 when the new Jefferson High School opened. He would finish out his career at Jefferson, teaching Social Studies, American Heritage, Economics and English.
While at Jefferson Laird became an avid historian for the J-Hawk wrestling program keeping extensive notes and records documenting each year. Even as Alzheimer’s robbed him of so much he could still sit down with a wrestling photo and name the entire squad without hesitation. He cherished the friendships that developed with former wrestlers and students whose lives he touched during his career, before retiring in 1980.
Laird married Delila Palmer in 1945 in Great Bend, KS. They were later divorced but remained friends through the years.
He is survived by Florence Johnson whom he married in 1973 in Gravois Mills, MO; two daughters, Cathy Rae Daniels of Greensboro, NC and Melene Noel Thomas of Hallsville, MO; and granddaughter, Crystal Pierce. Laird is also survived by cousins, nieces and nephews, including Bill Blanchard of Iowa City, IA.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Rae Blanchard and Midge Langguth; brother, Keith Daniels; and nephews, Jerry Daniels and Thomas Laird Blanchard.
Laird was a member of the Springville Historical Society and the Shellsburg American Legion.
A special thank you to the entire Bohlken family for allowing Dad to be part of their lives. Thank you also to Tammie and Gary Boten and Bev Franks for their support. The family would also like to thank St. Luke’s Hospice, Beth and Dr. Bell for their kindness and compassion.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Laird was born August 5, 1920, on the family farm north of Springville, IA to Leone Johnson Daniels and Charles Wesley Daniels. He attended school in Springville before moving with his family to Norway, IA where he graduated in 1937.
In 1941 he joined the Army Air Corps, now known as the United States Air Force. As a member of the 69th bomb squadron he saw active duty in the South Pacific serving as a mechanic on the B-26 and B-17 bomber aircraft. He earned the rank of SMSGT and received an Honorable Discharge in 1945. Laird was a prolific writer and kept detailed journals of his military service. Each volume is filled with stories and anecdotes covering his four years of active duty. He was also involved in the Air Force Reserves and Civil Air Patrol when he returned stateside.
Laird attended Coe College on the GI Bill, graduating in 1948, with a degree in Economics. He later went on to the University of Iowa where he received his Master’s degree. He began his 32 year teaching career in the fall of 1948 at the high school in Wapello, IA. He also coached girls’ basketball while at Wapello. Laird was invited and able to attend four of the class reunions given by his first group of students. In the fall of 1950 Laird moved on to Osage, IA where he taught for two years.
April of 1952 his dream job opened up when he received a letter from the Cedar Rapids School District offering him a job teaching American Heritage at Roosevelt High School. He taught at Roosevelt until 1957 when the new Jefferson High School opened. He would finish out his career at Jefferson, teaching Social Studies, American Heritage, Economics and English.
While at Jefferson Laird became an avid historian for the J-Hawk wrestling program keeping extensive notes and records documenting each year. Even as Alzheimer’s robbed him of so much he could still sit down with a wrestling photo and name the entire squad without hesitation. He cherished the friendships that developed with former wrestlers and students whose lives he touched during his career, before retiring in 1980.
Laird married Delila Palmer in 1945 in Great Bend, KS. They were later divorced but remained friends through the years.
He is survived by Florence Johnson whom he married in 1973 in Gravois Mills, MO; two daughters, Cathy Rae Daniels of Greensboro, NC and Melene Noel Thomas of Hallsville, MO; and granddaughter, Crystal Pierce. Laird is also survived by cousins, nieces and nephews, including Bill Blanchard of Iowa City, IA.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Rae Blanchard and Midge Langguth; brother, Keith Daniels; and nephews, Jerry Daniels and Thomas Laird Blanchard.
Laird was a member of the Springville Historical Society and the Shellsburg American Legion.
A special thank you to the entire Bohlken family for allowing Dad to be part of their lives. Thank you also to Tammie and Gary Boten and Bev Franks for their support. The family would also like to thank St. Luke’s Hospice, Beth and Dr. Bell for their kindness and compassion.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or a charity of the donor’s choice.
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