Palmer & Swank Funeral Home

Russell Charles Sandburg left his Carroll home for his heavenly paradise and ultimate promotion in life, Friday evening, April 15.

Russ was born to Keith and Ethel (Ross) Sandburg on December 26, 1942 at McCrary-Rost Hospital, Lake City, Iowa. He grew up on the family Century Farm in Reading Township in the Lohrville, Churdan, Farnhamville area.

As a teenager he was fascinated with mechanical things. At age 14 he purchased a used Cushman motor scooter and rode around Calhoun, Greene and Webster County gravel roads with his classmates Mick Parker and Larry Schroeder. Russ's Cushman was an older one and it seemed it was always being torn apart awaiting parts so he could put it back together and be back on the road again.

Russ graduated from Lohrville High School in 1961. While there, he participated in concert, dance and Dixieland bands. He played alto, tenor and baritone saxophone as well as tuba. He also played on the football team, which won the Bo-Coon Conference championship in 1960 during his senior year. Russ was made a member of the Lohrville High School Letterman's Club during his freshman year.

After high school, he attended Iowa Central Community College before enrolling in the auto mechanics program at Dunwoody Technical Institute in Minneapolis, graduating in 1965.

In 1962 he met and dated Gayle Thornburgh of rural Farnhamville. When Gayle graduated from Cedar Valley High School in 1963, she enrolled in the American Institute of Business in Des Moines. It was during this time of separation they decided to elope to Watertown, South Dakota. Russ and Gayle just celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary this past January.

After graduation from Dunwoody, Russ worked for different companies. These included the International Harvester dealer at Stratford, the Stanhope Cooperative, Goodyear Service Store, Levien Chevrolet and Rost Motors in Manson. It was during these early years of his career that Gayle and Russ had their twin boys, Clint and Clay.

Russ and Gayle decided to start their own shop in Rinard, which they ran for 18 years. While living in Rinard, Russ served on the city council and was Mayor for several years. He was also was instrumental in the upgrading of Rinard's water system.

After they closed the shop, he worked at Wittrock Motors in Carroll. The drives back and forth to Carroll lead to them sell their home in Rinard and move to Carroll in 2000. When his father died in 2008, the family held an estate sale. Keith was a saver and there were 18 machine motors to get running – Russ had them all purring by sale time.

During his years as a mechanic, he kept up with his continuing automotive education and its new technology. He was especially proud of earning the Automotive Service Excellence Award (ASE) of Master Certified Automotive Technician.

While in Carroll, Russ started singing with the Carroll Community Chorus. He looked forward to their Easter and Christmas concerts.

Preceding Russ in death were his parents, Ethel in 1976 and Keith in 2008.

The family will be present for visitation at Palmer Funeral Home in Gowrie on Monday, April 18th after 4:00 pm. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home Tuesday, April 19th at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Reading Township Cemetery. Memorials will be left to the family's discretion.