Russell “Russ” Neis
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Russell “Russ” Neis, age 49, of McKinney, Texas, passed away December 13, 2014. He was born March 13, 1965, in Lawrence, Kansas to Samuel George Neis Jr. and Elizabeth Kay (Kindig) Neis.
Russ was united in marriage on February 29, 1992 with Tina Rene Ledgerwood of Kansas City, KS, in Eudora, Kansas. He received a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University, where he was a member of the Farmhouse Fraternity and the football team manager. Russ worked for T-Mobile for 17 years. Prior to joining T-Mobile Russ was Ag-Economist for the USDA Soil Conservation Service. He was an Eagle Scout, member of the Order of the Arrow, President of the McKinney CMA Chapter Guardians of Grace as well as a certified instructor for North Texas Riders. Russ was a member of Crosspoint Church in McKinney, where he was an usher and active member of the men’s group.
Russ may have moved to the “City” but the farm still coursed through his blood. He loved the smell of fresh turned dirt and diesel fuel. Nothing made him happier than being on two wheels with the wind blowing in his face, except spending time with his family, both biological and chosen. His heart was as big as the state he now called home. He was a servant of his church, his community, and those in need. Russ wore his faith on his vest, not afraid to share it, he embraced the “Great Commission”.
He is survived by his wife, Tina Neis of McKinney; children, Anthony “Tony” R. Neis and Samantha “Sam” Neis both of McKinney; brother, Samuel D. Neis and husband Bill Spinney of Boston, MA; sister, Carol Ann Neis of CO; and sister-in-law, Bonnie Neis of Eudora, KS; foster brother Tom Ferguson and wife Donna of Baldwin City, KS; three nieces and two nephews.
Russ is preceded in death by his parents, Samuel George and Elizabeth Kay Neis, and brother Bruce Neis.
A funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, December 18, 2014 at Crosspoint Church, 2101 S. Stonebridge Drive, McKinney, Texas 75070. The family will receive friends during a visitation, being held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., on Wednesday evening at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas.
The family will receive friends during a visitation in Kansas, Friday December 19, 2014 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., at Warren-McElwain Funeral Home Chapel, 1003 John L. Williams Drive, Eudora, Kansas
Funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 20, 2014 at Warren-McElwain Funeral Home Chapel, 1003 John L. Williams Drive, Eudora, Kansas 66025. A committal service will follow at the Hesper Cemetery, Douglas County, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
Tina R. Neis Memorial Fund c/o Bank of America McKinney, TX 75071
Or via Paypal Merchant #5TS4X4FDE57YC
To convey condolences and to sign an online registry, please visit www.tjmfuneral.com.
I had the privilege to work with Russ at Metro PCS for about 4 years. Always with a friendly smile and words of encouragement. A true gentleman, riding in on his Harley. My most sincere condolences to his family and friends. May God give you the strength and courage to continue your journey until you are all reunited again. He will definitely be missed.
I had the privilege of meeting and living with Russ as a fraternity brother at Farmhouse back in our days at K-State. While I have lost contact with Russ over the years, I fondly remember the time we spent together in classes, fellowship, and just growing together with the other men of Farmhouse. Russ was a very good student and responsible young man… I have at least one class I would not have passed if it had not been for his generous help in getting me through it! I am very saddened by this news of his passing and praying this evening for Russ’s family during this very difficult time of loss and pray that Russ be now receiving his eternal reward for a life of faithful service in the name of Christ.
To the Neis family; We do not know Russ’s wife, and children. How ever we both knew Russ, and his family. His brothers, and his mom and dad. They were a fine family, and very good people. Russ was just like them. A kind and very wonderful person. When we read this in our Lawrence paper we were just blown away. You all are in our thoughts and prayers. God bless you all. We are 100% sure he watching down on us.
My first meeting of Russ was as a fraternity want-a-be at Kansas State. He was a recruitment co-chair. It took me another year to pledge that fraternity and we missed living together then. However Russ kept me in his memory and later contacted me and we were able to re-connect and spend many, many hours over many, many years building a solid relationship. Only regret is that we lost touch in recent years.
However over those years I came to develop an appreciation for his care for me and my family as if we were part of his family. All that knew him were touched kindly over their experiences with him. As difficult as his leaving this Earth is to those that have known him and especially to those that were still exposed to him daily; he definitely left this world a much better place.
Look forward to reuniting with him again someday. May Tina and Tony and Sammie find some comfort in knowing that Russ continues to be a “positive influence” in my life and the lives of my other family members.
I was very saddened to hear of Russ’s passing. He worked for me at K-State as a Student Manager and was a hard worker and loved being apart of the program. He had previously worked in the equipment room at Coffeyville Junior College and he was a loyal Red Raven as well as a Wildcat. The program was void of much success during his time there, but Russ always showed up with a smile and ready for the day’s work. His success in life and loyalty to family and Church were not a surprise to those of us who watched him during his formative years. My condolences go out to the entire Neis Family and his many friends.