Russell M. Lander - Winterset

Russell M. Lander, 89, of Van Meter, Iowa, died Sunday, June 17, 2012 at Care Center North in Winterset, Iowa. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 23, 2012, at McCalley-Collins Funeral Home in Winterset with Father James Kiernan officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Warren County, Iowa. Russell was born on December 31, 1922, at Ames, Iowa to Harold and Alice (Roach) Lander. He was a 1940 graduate of Van Meter High School and in 1942 joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served during WW II. Upon return from the service, Russell worked in the grocery business for several years before turning to farming, which he did for most of his life. He spent most of his life in the Van Meter and Des Moines area and was married on February 12, 1975 at Nevada, Iowa, to Alice Marie Neighbors. Russell enjoyed fishing and ballroom dancing. He also was a pilot and had owned his own plane. Russell is survived by his brother, Frank McAllister and wife Luana of Van Meter; sisters, Ruth Young of Ventura, CA, Mary Swanson and husband Gary of Dawson, and Bev Downing and husband Dean of Milford; and step-children, Lola Kaufmann and husband Don of Charlotte, NC, Al Keese and wife Carolyn of AR, and Jim Keese and wife Betty of Van Meter. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Alice (Roach) Lander; wife, Alice Lander; brother, Harold "Bill" and wife Bonnie Lander; and brother-in-law, Robert Young. Visitation will be Friday, June 22, from noon to 8 p.m. at McCalley-Collins Funeral Home in Winterset with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials given to the family will be directed to the Care Center North Activity Fund. Service: 10:30 AM - Saturday - June 23, 2012 McCalley - Collins Funeral Home Winterset Visitation: Open to public from noon to 8 PM Family receiving friends from 6 to 8 PM Friday, June 22, 2012 McCalley - Collins Funeral Home Winterset