Russell Carl Anderson

Russell Carl Anderson, 58, of Calimesa died at home on Sunday, August 25, 2019 from heart failure, he was found by his wife.
Russ is survived by his wife, Valerie, son James, daughter-in-law Honey, grandchildren JR (11); Kameron (nine), and Jocelyn (two and a half), four cats, Shadow, Carbon, Opal and Boony, as well as his brother, Mike.
Russ was born in Oak Park, IL and grew up in Elmhurst, IL where he attended all grades of school accept his senior year at York High Schiol. His family moved to Yucaipa, CA in August, 1978 where he completed his senior year at Yucaipa High School. He won awards for his woodwork.
Russ married Valerie on May 31, 1987 and had an instant family with son, James. Russ then adopted James. Russ always said, Valerie was my first date and my last date." Russ drove a red Scout truck and would pick up Valerie in it on their dates. He also enjoyed four wheeling.
Russ built A-frame homes in Angelus Oaks, worked for Custom Engineering/Pacific Coast Cobra where he was foreman and built custom cobras. He then went to work at Ark Engineering where he was a fabricator and welder; then to his last job with Cal-Mesa Steel Supply, on July 31, 1989 where he first ran the shear, then was trained on the pentagragh machine where he cut shapes out of metal using torches. He would say, "I cut steel with fire." He worked there for over 30 years before his passing.
He was a Christian man who accepted Jesus into his heart when he was 15 years old. He loved God first, then his family and then work. He lived his life with integrity, honesty, strong morals and values and servantude. He rode motorcycles, was in several bands and was an avid cyclist whose highest year for cycling was just over 5,000 miles. He loved watching his son play soccer, his wife participate in local theater, tap dance and playing the piano with him in church with the praise and worship team, have long talks with his daughter (daughter-in-law), Honey, watch James be a wonderful and loving father to his grandchildren, and watch his grandchildren grow up, especially Jocelyn, the first girl grandchild. He absolutely loved playing with his cats and laughing/talking with his wife, Valerie.
Services will be held at the Calimesa Seventh-day Adventist Church, Sunday, September 8, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.; 391 Myrtlewood Drive, Calimesa, CA. 92320