Russ Steele

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Since graduating 30 years ago, my life has been fairly busy.  I still live in Vancouver and have been working at Freightliner Corporation (truck manufacturer) for almost 29 years.  I am presently at the electrical shop as a foreman, supervising approximately 30 employees.  Our department is responsible for putting together the dashes for each truck.  Freightliner has been good to me in many ways; it has allowed me to live a comfortable lifestyle and introduced me to my wife, Brigitte. 

Our mutual friends (also work at Freightliner) set us up on a “blind” date in November 1990 and the rest is, as they say history.  We were married in 

April 1993 – quite an adjustment for a guy who had been single for over 20 years – but she was well worth the wait. 

Both Brigitte and I have grown children.  My daughter, Tina, (age 30) lives and works in Vancouver.  Tina has blessed us with two wonderful grandchildren, Teira (age 7) and Skylar (age 4).  Tina is a wonderful young woman and a great mother.  Our grandchildren truly are a joy!. 

Brigitte has two sons, Andreas (age 24) and Stefan (age 22).  Both are single and are enjoying life.   Andreas lives and works in Vancouver and Stefan attends the University of Oregon in Eugene.  Both are fine young men with good life goals.  We have truly been blessed with great children and grandchildren and love and appreciate them very much.

Brigitte is German and has introduced to me a whole new world.  Even though her mother and brother live in Portland, they are very active in the German community.  Her brother, Gunther Hoffmann, is the Honorary German Consul for Oregon and southern Washington.  Thereby, I am continually being introduced to multi-cultural activities and enjoying them very much and to that I say – Danke schoen!

The last three years, however, were very challenging as my mother, Alice, suffered from Alzheimer’s.  This is such a sad and robbing disease.  Then last February the Lord decided to take my mom from us.  She was a loving and wonderful mother to my sister, Pat, and I and a loving and doting grandmother to my daughter, Tina.  It is always difficult when a parent passes away and especially when both are gone.  The adjustment is very difficult even though we know that mom is in a “better place” we miss her very much.

Travelling is a passion we both share and this Spring we vacationed in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and hope to do more travelling when we retire in six years.