Russell Virgil Tiedemann, age 82 of Brownwood, passed away Wednesday, December 22, 2021. Visitation will be held from 6-8 P.M. on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at Heartland Funeral Home in Early. Funeral services will be held at 2 P.M. on January 6 in the Heartland Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor John Villareal and Dakota Dean officiating. Burial will take place at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Beaumont on January 7th, at 2 P.M.
Russ was born on December 31, 1938, in Des Moines, Iowa. He graduated Runnels High School in Iowa. Soon after, he ventured to Texas while stationed in the Army at Fort Hood, Texas where he met Judith Karen Spell in 1962. She was a Melody Maid, a choral group that entertained military bases and posts nationwide. They married 3 years later on August 24, 1965 in Beaumont, and began a life together that blessed them with 5 children. It was a union that lasted 56 years until his death. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with friends at Milton Avenue Baptist Church in Brownwood. Russ enjoyed fishing in the Gulf of Mexico with his father-in-law, Murray Spell. Weekends and days off were always an adventure they looked forward to. He took pride in his work as a shipfitter in the Bethlehem Steel Shipyard in Beaumont. He and his “adopted son” Otis Earl McNeely shared many hours working side by side in the shipyard. Russ particularly enjoyed being a Scout Master of the Boy Scouts of America, where he also shared many hours with Otis. They hosted many memorable camp outs and adventures with the scouts all over America.
Russ is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Judy Tiedeman; children, Russel Tiedemann and wife Debra, Elizabeth Riegert, Aimee Bigham, Richard Tiedemann and wife Brenda, Raymond Tiedemann and wife Deborah; brothers from another mother, Robert Davis and wife Cynthia, Thomas Godwin and wife Laverne, Otis McNeely and wife Sabrina; grandchildren, April, Deseraie, Dustin, John, Charles, Ryan, Jason, Jesse, Alec, and Victoria Rae. He is also survived by 10 great grandchildren, numerous other relatives, and a host of friends. He is preceded in death by his parents
Condolences, memories and tributes can be offered to the family online at heartlandfuneralhome.net.
