- Date Of Birth: August 22, 1901
- Date Of Death: May 21, 2000
- State: Iowa
Russell Hill Balmer, the son of James and Ella “Dora” M. (Hill) Balmer, was born on August 22, 1901 in rural Kellogg, Iowa. He moved to Newton, Iowa in his early childhood and attended Jasper County Country School. Russell served his country in the U.S. Army during WWI, upon returning home he went to work for Peters Construction as amazon tender, retiring in 1963.
At the age of 64 years young, Russeell was united in marriage to Florence Miller Gearhart on May 6, 1966 in Newton. He was a charter member of the Emerson Hough Chapter of the Izaak Walton.
Russell was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and three sisters. Those left to honor his memory are his wife, Florence; his two stepson and daughters-in-law, Marvin and Dena Gearhart and Harry and Marsha Gearhart, both of Newton; his four stepdaughters and sons-in-in-law, Byrnadeen and Roland Failor of Newton; Shirley and Kenneth Fifer of Branson, Missouri; Roberta and Don Emery of Drexel, Missouri; and Jane and “Newt” Wolf of Newton; his 19 step-grandchildren, 36 step-great-grandchildren, and 6 step-great-great-grandchildren; his niece, Linda Hewitt and her husband, Rex of Newton; and his nephew, Larry Lust of Newton and many nieces and nephews.
