Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Baird, Russell Vern, Jr. 2010
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Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net September 30, 2011, 11:52 am

Ionia Sentinel Standard, 24 Mar 2010

Russell Vern Baird Jr., 64, passed away Saturday, March 20, 2010, after a long
and courageous battle with lung cancer.  He has gone on to live with his Lord
and savior Jesus Christ.

Russ was born in Ionia on Dec. 10, 1945.  He lived in Ionia until 2004, when he
and his wife moved to Hudsonville.  Russ graduated from Ionia High School in
1964, where he succeeded academically and played football and baseball.  He
graduated from Ferris State University in 1969 with a Bachelor’s degree in
Business.  Russ married his wife, Rene Hass Baird, on Nov. 16, 1973.

Russ had a very successful career working in the insurance business for 40
years, working the majority of his career with Aetna, Cigna and Zurich, finally
retiring from Foremost Insurance in December 2009.  He won numerous awards for
outstanding performance in his job.  He had the admiration and respect of his
colleagues, family, and friends over the years.  He was a devoted husband,
father and grandfather.  After accepting the Lord into his life, he was a
valuable leader at Ionia Zion United Methodist Church in the late 1980s and
early 1990s, serving as the Board Director for three years.  In addition to
being a coach and umpire, he also served on the Ionia Youth Baseball League
Board for several years.

He was preceded in death by all his grandparents, his parents, Russell and
Thelma, and his Uncle, Alvin Rasmussen.  He leaves behind his devoted wife of 36
years, Rene; his two sons, Corey (Diane) and Derek (Rachel); his cousin, James
(Jan) Maynard (who was like a brother to him); close cousins, Jami and Justin
Maynard; and four grandchildren.  

The funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at the Shiloh Community
Church, 8197 Heth St., Orleans, with Pastor Kenneth Harger officiating.  The
family will meet with relatives and friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.
Tuesday at the Cook Funeral Home, 5235 Prairie S.W., Grandville, (West Building)
and 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Schrauben-Lehman Funeral Home,
220 Rich St., Ionia.  Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer
Society.


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