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Russell E. Grose

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Russell E. Grose, CWO4 USCG (Ret), of Sun City West, Arizona, passed away on January 2, 2023. He was two weeks shy of his 91st birthday and was with his children when he died. He was a career military man serving in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Russ was born on January 15, 1932, in St. Paul, Minnesota and graduated South Minneapolis High School in 1950. After graduation, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the 82nd Airborne as a Paratrooper. After being honorably discharged from the Army, he attended the University of Minnesota for three years but left to marry his first wife, Earleen. In 1960, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and was later commissioned as a Chief Warrant Officer. During the Vietnam War, he was the Commanding Officer of a Loran Station in Udorn, Thailand. The Viet Cong blew up the station, nearly killing him and his men. He was later commended for having the station back to operating in three days. He also received a letter of commendation for his efforts in saving all 524 passengers and crew of the luxury cruise ship, Prinsendam, off of Yakutat, Alaska on October 4, 1980. He retired from the Coast Guard after serving as the Commanding Officer of the Communication Station in Kodiak, Alaska. He finished his degree in Computer Science in 1985 at the University of Alaska where he also received an MBA in 1989. After retirement, he worked as a Network Services Specialist for the State of Alaska in Juneau and retired from that position in 1992. Russ spent his retirement traveling with his second wife Dianne, who he married in 1979. Eventually they purchased a home in Sun City West, Arizona. Russ was passionate about his hobbies, which included playing bridge, golf, and cribbage. He was also a very avid photographer, winning several competitions with photos taken during his travels. He is preceded in death by his first wife Earleen, his second wife Dianne, and his daughter Jill. He is survived by his three children Michelle Grose-Bray (Randy), Robin DeGeorge (Rodger), Ed Grose (Betsy), his stepchildren Kelly Freng (Kristin) and Kristi Hooten (Shawn) and his nine grandchildren Nolan, Blake, Kaitlyn, Russell, Kyle, Lucas, Austin, Andrew, and Ashlan. Funeral services will take place on Tuesday January 24th at Sun City West Christian Church at 11:30 am. He will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery later this year. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warriors Project in his name.