Mr. Russell Kenneth "Shadow" Augustine, age 86, of Greenville, Michigan, passed away Tuesday morning, Feb. 26, 2008 at Spectrum Health United Memorial-United Hospital, Greenville.
The son of John & Clella Chaffin Augustine, he was born on July 6, 1921 in St. Louis. After graduating high school, Russ served his country in the U.S. Army and was a proud veteran of World War II. While serving under General Douglas MacArthur in the Asiatic-Pacific and Philippine Island theatres, he was decorated with the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He was a longtime member of both the Cleveland-Wolverton Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3794 and the Ray I. Booth American Legion Post 101 in Greenville.
On Dec. 31, 1948, in Belding, he married the former Helen M. Button. Together, they raised two children, and enjoyed 57 years of marriage until Helen passed away on March 17, 2006. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Ralph, and Rollo; and six sisters, Hazel, Lola, Marion, Velma, Doris, and Maxine.
For over 45 years, he worked as a tool and die maker at the former Gibson Refrigerator Company where he acquired the nickname, "Shadow". He was a member of the International Associated Tool Crafters union, enjoyed golfing and hunting, but will be best remembered by his family as the world’s best dad, grandpa, and great grandpa . Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Patricia & James Turnbull of Greenville; a son and daughter-in-law, Gary & Carol Augustine of Lakeview; four grandchildren, Anthony Augustine, Barbara & Jerry Bristol, Rhonda & Nate Drews, Rickey & Sara Allen; four great grandchildren, Ian Augustine, Natasha Bristol, Olivia and Elaina Drews; a brother, Max Augustine; two sisters-in-law, Rose Davies of Lansing, and Alma Bond of Greenville; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 1, 2008 at the Brown-Teman & Christiansen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 511 S. Franklin Street, Greenville. The Rev. Lynne Kronewitter, pastor of Cowden Lake Christian Church, will officiate. Burial, with full military honors, will take place in the spring at Rest Haven Memory Gardens, Belding. Visitation is Friday from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home, where envelopes for memorial contributions to the Make-A-Wish Foundation will be available.
To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Mr. Augustine’s online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit: www.christiansen-fh.com
