Henry J. Russell, age 83 of Prairie du Sac, WI passed away Wednesday, December 13th at UW Hospital in Madison.  He was born on December 7, 1940 in Baraboo, the son of the late Clayton & Edna (Berg) Russell.  He graduated from Prairie du Sac High School in 1958.  He was united in marriage to Patricia Kelter on June 18, 1966 in Sauk City, WI.  After high school he went in to the United States Army for 40 months and was stationed in Germany.  He was there when the Berlin wall was started in 1962.  He was employed by and former co-owner of Giegerich's Sons Printing in Prairie du Sac for over 57 years.  He also was a volunteer and retired as First Assistant Chief with the Prairie du Sac Fire Department from 1962-1999; Sauk Prairie Ambulance EMT and Crew Chief for 10 years; then served the next 10 years as the Village of Prairie du Sac's representative on the Sauk Prairie Ambulance Commission.  He was honored as the Wisconsin State Firefighters' Association Firefighter of the Year 1998-99.  He also served on the Sauk County Local Emergency Planning Committee many years in the 80's and 90's.  He served on the Village of Prairie du Sac Zoning Board of Appeals from 2000 to 2021 and as its chair from 2003 to 2016.

After his retirement he enjoyed collecting Sauk City and Prairie du Sac advertising items from area businesses.  He also enjoyed fishing, deer hunting, antiques and traveling.  He worked tirelessly for decades to promote the writings and publishing of author August Derleth and was a long time vice-president of the August Derleth Society.  He also was a member of the Honor Guard for the American Legion.

He is survived by daughter, Connie (James) Reeves; and many other nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents Clayton & Edna Russell, step-mother Laura Russell, wife Patricia (Kelter) Russell, sisters Shirley Cvikota and Marian Burke, sister-in-law Sharon Laird and brother-in-law Robert Laird.

Visitation will be held at Hooverson Funeral Home in Sauk City from 4-7 pm on December 20 and a memorial service will be held at Hooverson Funeral Home at 11 am on December 21.  Final resting place will be Prairie du Sac Cemetery where Military Honors will be accorded by the Lachmund-Cramer VFW and Kuoni Reuter American Legion Posts.  There will be a gathering following the burial at the Prairie du Sac Fire Department.  Our family would like to give a special thank you to Sauk Prairie Hospital, University Hospital in Madison, the Maplewood Rehab facility and all of his loving neighbors. lieu of flowers, memorials to the Prairie du Sac Fire Department or the Historical Society.