Russell H. Shoemaker

Russell H. Shoemaker, 58, of Arvada, Colo., passed away April 23, 2008 from melanoma at Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge, Colo.

Russ was born in Lock Haven on Dec. 18, 1949 to Russell Eugene and Mabel Russell Shoemaker.

He attended and graduated from Lock Haven High School, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served in Vietnam. Russ spent many years in the sales industry, selling life insurance and automobiles.

Russ was an avid hunter and fisherman and an all-around sports fanatic.

Russ was preceded in death by his father, Russell Eugene. He is survived by his wife, Joan Yenchick Shoemaker, a senior caretaker/companion, and son, Brett Shoemaker, a mental health therapist, both currently residing in Colorado. Russ is also survived by his mother, Mabel Russell Shoemaker; sisters, Sylvia Probst and Jan Murphy; and many nieces and nephews and aunts and uncles.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 1 p.m. at the First Church of Christ in Lock Haven, with a reception to follow. A memorial was held in Colorado on May 1, 2008 at the Aspen Mortuary Chapel of the Angels and his remains will be buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colo., on May 30, 2008.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, that a donation be made in his name to The Melanoma Research Foundation, the Pennsylvania Game Commission or the Pennsylvania ASPCA.