Denny Lee Russell

Denny Lee Russell of Owensboro, KY went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, October 7th , 2016, at the Heartford House.
Denny was an outgoing guy who would talk to anyone. He took pleasure in the small things -like watching a crane land on the lake behind his home and learning new things.

Denny was a member of First Baptist Church and enjoyed fellowship with the Open Door Sunday School Class and Supper Eight Dinners.
He was born on March 2,1952 in Vincennes, Indiana to Jesse L. and Marie (Schumacher) Russell. He was a 1970 graduate of Lincoln High School in Vincennes. As a child he learned to play sports through the YMCA. He played on the high school football and baseball teams. Football was his favorite sport.
Denny attended Yankton College in Yankton, South Dakota where he played football. He finished his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education at Oakland City University. He continued graduate work at Indiana State University where he received his Masters in Education. He taught and coached in Indiana at Washington High School, North Knox High School, Pike Central High School, and Oakland City University and also in Kentucky at Daviess County High School for a total of 41 years.

He met Suzanne Grossman at Heritage Hills High School in the fall of 1979 at a sporting banquet. He asked her to marry him the following Valentine's Day. They married in August of 1980 and had one son, Dane, who brought great joy to his dad and mom. Coaching Dane in basketball and baseball as a child and later watching him play college basketball made many great memories for Denny.

Denny was a sports enthusiast and watched College Game Day in the fall and would just as likely have been found at high school football or basketball games. He attended many of his son's games, and they would go to the Indiana High School State Tournament games together.

Denny was a fifteen-year liver transplant survivor. His transplant was due to Alpha 1 Antitryspin Deficiency, a heredity liver disease.

Denny was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, George Russell, his sister, Mary Daugherty, and his father and mother-in-law, Howard and Marjorie Grossman.

He is survived by his wife, Suzanne his son, Dane and wife Kala Russell; sisters, Kathy Todd and husband, David; Dottie DeGraff and husband, Bob; brothers, Rick Russell and wife, Sheree; Jim Russell and wife, Jane; brother-in-law, Stanley Grossman and his wife, Ginny and sister-in-law, Jane Mobley and her husband, Sam.

A memorial service will be 2:00pm, Friday, October 14, 2016 at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory where visitation will begin at 12:00pm.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions may be made to the Liver Foundation, St. Louis University Hospital, St Louis, MO in memory of Denny Russell or the Heartford House, Hospice of Western KY in Owensboro, KY.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.glennfuneralhome.com