Russell Duane Conklin, 70, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Dec. 13, 2014 from his home on S M-37. He was born Dec. 11, 1944, the youngest of eleven children of Albert and Lillie (Gates) Conklin on Lacey Road, Barry County. He attended Eaton County rural schools and graduated from Charlotte High School in 1963, He was on the football team. He served with the 25th Infantry Division at Chi Chi, Viet Nam 1966-67, where he was exposed to Agent Orange and later developed cancer. His favorite verse is Psalm 34:6: "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles."

Russell married Donna Kaye Butler on April 2, 1967 in Memphis, TN. Infant daughter Mary Rebecca died in 1981. Russ & Donna adopted their four children in Costa Rica in 1981. Mari lives in Maben, MS, with her children Sasha, Samantha, & Ethan. Maria and son Joshua live in Big Rapids. Gerard and Helen's children are William and Sophia. Their home is in Louisiana. Luis and Kari,Trenton and Robert live in Virginia. Russ & Donna faithfully worshipped with their children at Nashville Baptist Church when they lived near Charlotte.
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In addition to his wife, children, and grandchildren, Russ is survived by brothers Dwight and Philip (Charlotte) of Charlotte, Albert of Hastings, Sidney (Joyce) of South Haven, and sisters Edna, Janet, Karen (Marshall) Hardin, Virginia (Pat) Garvey of Hastings, Edith Winegar of Charlotte, and Lucy Blount of Andalusia, Alabama, and several nieces and nephews.

Following his tour of duty in the military Russ enrolled in drafting classes at Lansing Community College and worked for Hoover Universal in Charlotte. Bohn Aluminum in Holland, and retired from Hydro Aluminum in Cedar Springs. They recently moved to Hastings to be near family.

Russ had many interests, including woodworking. He built a number of glass-front wall mounted display cases for collectibles and some larger pieces of furniture. He had an extensive collection of John Deere toys and attended annual toy shows.

The family will receive visitors on Wednesday December 17, 2014 from 11-1 PM at the Daniels Funeral Home in Nashivlle, MI.

Funeral services will be held 1 PM on Wednesday December 17, 2014 at the Daniels Funeral Home Nashville, MI with pastor Lester DeGroot officiating. Interment will take place immediately following the funeral service at Union Cemetery with full military honors on North Avenue.

In Lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, TN.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Daniels Funeral Home in Nashville MI. For further details please visit our website at www.danielsfuneralhome.net