Russell Wayne Griesemer, 41, was born July 8, 1972, son of Larry and Carol (Dawson) Griesemer.

He passed away early in the morning of Feb. 16, taken from us when he was only 41 — an eternity too early.

His kind, open, charismatic face made him easy to trust, and often attracted kids and babies to run to him and smile. It was hard not to see the smile in his eyes. Often coated by a beard during the winter months, his face was as commonly seen at wrestling meets at the wrestling mats. He spent uncountable hours in a hot gym, watching his two sons wrestle. 

Nicknamed “Capt’n Russ” by his mother, Carol, he spent many summer days cruising around Patoka Lake in his beloved green Chapparal boat. Memorial Days were spent with the Griesemers, sprawled out at a campsite at Patoka Lake. Family, camping, and boating were some of his greatest loves in life. Russell was a good man, with a good heart, quick to smile, the first to laugh — a plain and simple, down-to-earth, hardworking man. He will be loved and missed by all who had the chance to encounter him. “If I had one wish, it would be to have one more day with him, a thousand times over,” wrote his son Christian. 

He attended Princeton Community High School and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Princeton. He was an avid supporter of PCHS wrestling. He was a coal miner, working at Five Star and Black Panther mines in Indiana. 

Russell was preceded in death by his father, Larry Russell Griesemer, in 2012, and also by grandparents Blackie and Alma Griesemer and Robert T. and Ann Dawson. 

Surviving are his two sons, Alex and Christian Griesemer of Princeton, daughter Anna Griesemer, of Brandon, Miss.; the mother of his children, Erica Griesemer of Brandon, Miss.; his mother, Carol (Dawson) Griesemer of Princeton; his sister, Lori (Ora) Martin of Princeton; brothers Jeff Griesemer of Princeton and Jon (Jackie) Griesemer of Jasper; several nieces and nephews, Ashlee and Bree McGrew and Tyler Martin, all of Princeton; Kennedy Griesemer of Princeton; and Joshua and Kendall Griesemer, both of Jasper; and four great-nephews, Cash, Jaxon, Hunter and Gage. 

Funeral services are Friday, February 21, 2014 at 6 p.m. at Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton, with visitation at the funeral home from noon until service time on Friday. A private family memorial event is planned at Patoka Lake at a later date.