Blue Hill Mourns Former Mayor

Russell Wayne Willems, 75, of Blue Hill, Nebraska, died Sunday, August 9, 2009, at the Blue Hill Care Center, Blue Hill, Nebraska. Services are Thursday, August 13, 2009 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Blue Hill, Nebraska, 10:00 A.M. with Pastor Don Cosson officiating. Burial will be in the Blue Hill Cemetery, Blue Hill, Nebraska. Memorials may be sent to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Blue Hill Fire Dept./EMT unit or the Blue Hill Community Foundation. Visitation will be Tuesday August 11, and Wednesday, August 12, 2009, from 9:00 A.M. - 9:00P.M. at Merten-Butler Mortuary and one hour prior to services at the church. Merten-Butler Mortuary of Blue Hill, Nebraska , is in charge of arrangements.

Russ was the second of five sons born to John H. & Ida (Hinrich) Willems on February 22, 1934, on a farm near Gilead, NE. He attended rural school through the eighth grade and two years of high school at Hebron, NE. His family then moved to an Adams County farm and he attended Blue Hill High School graduating in 1951. For the next four years he held jobs with Adams County, The Naval Ammunition Depot, and the State Highway Dept. He was drafted in May 1955 and served in the U. S. Army until his discharge in May 1957. On December 22, 1957, he married Wilma J. Stroh at Calvary Lutheran Church, Rosemont, NE. They made their home in Ayr, NE and Russ learned his carpentry, plumbing, and electrical skills as he renovated their first home. Russ returned to his job with the State Highway Dept., where he remained until 1960. He also served as the Village Clerk of Ayr, NE. In the fall of 1960 he accepted a job as Village Clerk and street commissioner for Blue Hill where his family moved in 1961. Over the next several years he added the water and sewer departments to his responsibilities and served on the board of directors for the Nebraska League of Municipalities. In 1974 he took a leap of faith when he quit his city positions and began his own construction business. Russ devoted his adult life to the City of Blue Hill. He was instrumental in getting curb and gutter in place so that residents could get black-topped streets, which he laid. He served on the city council and for ten years was proud to serve as Blue Hill's Mayor. Health reasons forced him to resign as mayor in December of 2008. Throughout, he was an advocate for Blue Hill and its businesses. His volunteer work for the community was substantial. He was a member of the Blue Hill Fire Dept. Since 1961 and in 1974 was a charter ember of the EMT squad. He answered hundreds of fire and medical calls. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran church where he was active in a variety of capacities. For many years he served as treasurer, council member, and devotions leader. Russ was an avid bowler and in his retirement, a golfer. He also took much pleasure in his daughters, grandchildren, and their activities.

He is survived by his wife, Wilma, Blue Hill, NE, (4) daughters: Carol (Brent) McClung, Big Springs, NE; Sharon (Doug) Hartman, Columbus, NE; Beverly (Patrick) Haschke, Sioux Falls, SD; Nancy (Bryan) Kotschwar, Big Springs, Ne; 12) grandchildren: mark, James and John McClung, Big Springs, NE :Jeff Hartman and his fiancee, Ashley Strehl’ Beth and Susan Hartman, all of Columbus, NE: Brandon and Katelyn Haschke, Sioux Falls, SD ‘ Matt (Liz) Haschke, Wayne, NE; Jennifer (Wes) Policky, Waukesha, WI: Lindsey and Grace Kotschwar, Big Springs, NE:” (4) great-grandchildren; Riley & Benjamin Haschke, Wayne, NE; Isabelle & Payton Policky, Waukesha, WI; (2) brothers: Glenn (Julie) of Brighton, Co, and Orville of Davis, SD; and (1) sister-in-law Mildred Willems, Blue Hill, NE. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Eldon and Alvin.