Russel was born October 21, 1953, at home in Moville, IA, the son of Donald J. and Betty (Weinreich) Jahn.  He grew up in Pierson graduating from Kingsley-Pierson High School.  Following high school he graduated from Northwestern College in Orange City, IA. After that Russel lived and traveled to many locations throughout his life including Okoboji, Iowa, Florida, Colorado and Omaha, Nebraska. Russ earned his IT degree from Western Iowa Teach which led him to working jobs all over the United Sates and even in Germany.  He was a member of the Pierson United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his mother, Betty, Pierson, brothers, Art (Janet) Jahn, Omaha, NE and Greg (Ronda) Jahn, LeMars, IA, sisters, Chari (Troy) Scholtman, Sioux City, IA and Lorri Slaymaker, Spencer, IA.  Russel had several nieces and nephews, Shelly (Kenny) Keane, Anna Jahn (Seb), Isaac (Lauren) Jahn, Taylor, Weston and Carly Jahn, Jessy Verzani, Tyler (Alex) Scholtman and his furry four-legged princess, “Miss Kitty”.

Russel was preceded death by his maternal grandparents, Art and Laura Weinreich, paternal grandparents, Herman and Anna Jahn, his father, Don, brother-in-law, Jack Slaymaker and ‘and Russ’ other furry four-legged friend, Smudge’.