Russell James Mcdonald

A Visitation for Russell James McDonald, 78, Lawrence, KS will be held at 9:00 a.m. with funeral mass at 10:00 am on Tuesday November 15, 2022, at Saint John’s Catholic Church in Lawrence. Inurnment of Russ and Sharon will follow at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Lawrence Kansas. Russell passed away on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.

Russell was born on September 1, 1944, in Elyria, OH, the son of Thurman “Dutch” and Sue (Wargo) McDonald.  He was happily married to his high school sweetheart Sharon (aka “Mrs. McD”) for 46 years.  He graduated from the University of Detroit with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  He worked for the DuPont Corporation for 25 years in West Virginia and North Carolina before taking the plant manager position at the Flexel plant in Tecumseh, Kansas.

Rusty never knew a stranger and was genuinely enthusiastic to make new friends. He had a passion for anything automotive, restoring sports cars and working outdoors.  His family always recalled him as the early riser with his animated whistle that would wake up the entire neighborhood.  Extended family and friends enjoyed his sharp wit and humor as a compliment to any social gathering even for an engineer. He especially loved being a grandpa to his grandchildren.  Always willing to engage in philosophical debates of worldly importance.

Survivors include his children, Kimberly Heiman and husband David, Amy Erwin, Dr. Jimmy McDonald, six grandchildren: Nicholas, Tanner, David jr., Georgia, Bailee, Aidan, and brother Robert McDonald and wife Ann. He was preceded in death by his wife Sharon, parents, sister Jean, and granddaughter Mary Ann(Mae)Erwin.

In leu of flowers any memorials or donations will go to St. Johns School and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13 ^th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.