Russell B. Senff, also known as “Rascal” or “The Grouch,” passed away on August 20, 2015, in Fountain Hills. He was born in Bremen, Indiana on May 31, 1923, to Harvey Delbert and Laura May (Leeper) Senff, being the seventh of 12 children. He attended high school in Argos, Indiana, graduating in 1942. He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy, trained as a Navy Medic and was honorably discharged in 1946 following his last tour based at Pearl Harbor.
Russell enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, and farming. He received his pilot’s license around 1947, although he continued to enjoy his other hobbies more.
Russell met Annice Marie Hodges, married in1954 and divorced in 1969, but remained friends. During their marriage, Russell adopted Annice’s two children, Gary and Rebecca, and they had two more children, Stephen and Philip. Russell spent the majority of his working life in the construction trade in California, Idaho, Indiana and Arizona.
Russell met and married Fern (Benson) Sherk on May 26th, 1971 in Centerville, Michigan. Fern’s children, Hank, Ellen, and Ted Jr. Sherk became part of Russell and Fern’s family.
Upon moving to Arizona, Russell started screen printing tee shirts and continued to sell craft materials at swap meets, where he taught his grandchildren the “Senff Technique” to selling. In Fountain Hills, Russell worked at Coast-to-Coast and Paul's ACE Hardware until he retired.
Russell was very active in the LDS Church in both Plymouth, Indiana and Fountain Hills, Arizona. Around the holidays, he and Fern would make lots of raisin bread and dozens of cookies. The grandchildren, as well as friends, always looked forward to the cookies, especially the monster and potato chip cookies.
“The Grouch” has left Fern, his wife of 44 years, to manage the crew, consisting of 6 children: Philip (Kim) Senff, Stephen Senff, Gary Senff and Ted (Kelly) Sherk, all in Arizona, with Ellen Sherk in Indiana and Ashley (James) Winterset in Washington. Left behind are 22 grandchildren, more than 30 great-grand children, 2 sisters in Indiana, Bonnie Bagley in Plymouth and Thelma Miller in Walkerton. He was preceded in death by three brothers, six sisters, one stepson, one daughter, and one grandchild.
Family and friends will miss Russell’s loving, giving, kind attitude. They will also miss his “dry” sense of humor as he continued to make people snicker and laugh up to the end.
There will be a memorial service and luncheon at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 10557 E. Bainbridge Avenue in Fountain Hills on Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make an appropriate donation to your favorite charity in Russell’s name.