Russell V. Waterman - age 68, of Pocahontas, passed away on Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
Russell Vader Waterman was born September 16, 1950, in Storm Lake, Iowa. He was the son of Russell and Erma (Vader) Waterman. Russ graduated from Pocahontas High School in 1969. He attended the University of Iowa, participating in the Iowa Marching band which at the time was an all male group. Russ was a policeman for Gilmore City and Pocahontas. On June 12, 1976, Russell married Julia Henning at the Laurens Christian Church. He worked as a deputy for the Greene County Sheriff's office until 1978 when he returned to the Pocahontas Police Department. Over the years he ran the Four Way Stop gas station, worked for Scrivners and Fleming in Laurens and various hog confinements. In 1993, Russ and Julie began as foster parents and housed around 25 children until 2010 when they began to help care for their grandchildren. In 1995, they adopted their first foster children, Seth and Mysti. He refereed basketball, softball, volleyball and football being his favorite.
Russ was a member of the Hope United Methodist Church. In his younger years he enjoyed golfing, hunting and fishing.
Survivors include his wife, Julie of Pocahontas; children, Seth Waterman of South Sioux City and Mysti Waterman of Webster City; grandchildren, Micah and Izac Waterman, Xander Pannkuk, Hudson Wagner and Charlotte Moore; foster grandchildren, Tori and Silas and many more; sisters, Jane (Ralph) Hitchcook of Charles City and Linda Wackwitz of Tama; brother, John (Kathy) Waterman of Gretna, NE; sisters-in-law, Mona (Gary) Zhorne and Maggie Henning and brother-in-law, Russ (Juli') Henning. Russ was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Mary Waterman and Berniece Milne Holmes and brothers-in-law, Ken Wackwitz and Larry Holmes.