Russell E. Stock

Russ Stock, a man who sold Christmas trees for almost 40 years, fittingly passed away Christmas Eve at the Life Care Center in Port Orchard, Washington. He was 92.
Russell was born to Gottlieb and Charlotte Stock in Rocky Bay/Victor, Washington.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Madalynn Ruble Stock, and 11 brothers and sisters.
Russell is survived by his two children, Greg Stock (Lynette) of Seattle and Adele Fisher (Bob) of Port Orchard. Three grandsons: Brandon Stock (Lori) of Sammamish, Garrett Fisher (Nikki) of Wichita, Kansas, and Zach Fisher of Tacoma, and Russell’s granddaughter, Laura Ballard (Tony), of Phoenix, Arizona. Seven Great Grandchildren: Victoria and Alexandria Ballard, Allison, Eli, and Luke Fisher, and Anna and Charlotte Stock. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews of whom he loved very much.
Russell’s parents, Gottlieb and Charlotte Stock, immigrated to America from Germany in 1904. Eventually the family settled in the Rocky Bay area of the Key Peninsula. When Russell was born in 1923, he joined 5 brothers and 4 sisters. Two Stock children died soon after birth. Russell was the only child to have a medical doctor assist in his birth. Grandpa Gottlieb Stock delivered all the other children himself. Life for this large family was not always easy. At one point they all lived in a chicken coop after their house burned down. It seems that there was a neighbor’s “still” further in the woods that was set on fire by authorities. Being a windy day, sparks traveled to the Stock home and caught it on fire. The entire family ended up living in the chicken coup for two years until Grandpa Stock received a settlement from the government to rebuild the home.
The Stock boys were very athletic. Boxing was something the brothers enjoyed. Russell played all sports at Vaughn High School. If you have the opportunity to visit the Key Center Civic Center, check out the pictures of Russ sporting his leather helmet in the football pictures.
Following his high school graduation in 1942, Russell moved to Twisp, Washington, to work on the family farm raising hogs and cattle. While working the farm, he met Madalynn Ruble. Madalynn’s father owned the ranch across the street. Russell liked the home-cooked meals Madalynn’s mother made, and he also liked Madalynn. Loved blossomed, and they were married in January 1946. In the meantime, Russell and his brother Julius purchased a grocery store in Grapeview, Washington. The newlyweds packed up and moved across the mountains to run the grocery store while Madalynn was Post Master of Grapeview. WWII was just ending, and many young couples were returning to Grapeview to work in the grape industry and other postwar jobs. These couples proved to be life-long friends that Madalynn and Russ maintained all throughout their married lives.
In 1949, Greg was born, followed by Adele in 1953. Russ and Madalynn purchased a lumber yard and hardware store along with four adjoining houses in 1955. They moved their young family to Port Orchard, living in the largest of the four houses. This was the start of their life as a husband and wife partnership in the lumber business named Stock’s Lumber. They made a great team. Madalynn kept the books, waited on customers, kept the store neat and tidy while Russ worked hard to learn the lumber trade and earn the trust of the Port Orchard community. Their plan to be successful business people worked, as they were able to make a good living to support their family. They were able to put Greg and Adele through college, and at the time of Russell’s death, he still lived in the beautiful home he and Madalynn built in 1961 on Vista Rama Dr.
In 1974, they decided to sell Stock’s Lumber and begin a new career of developing land and building houses. This endeavor worked out well for Greg and Adele, as their parents were able to assist them in building homes for their families. Russ also used the property across the road from their Vista Rama house to plant Christmas Trees. For many years Russ enjoyed selling trees and visiting with folks as they came to pick out the perfect tree.
For a number of years Russ and Madalynn enjoyed taking their motor home to Arizona for the winter. They loved the warm weather so much. In the summer, the motor home was parked in Ilwaco, Washington, while Russ and Madalynn fished on the Columbia River and adjacent Pacific Ocean. Russ’ CB handle was “Slivers” because as a lumberman, his hands always were full of slivers.
Russ loved Washington State University and Cougar sports! There were many trips over to the Palouse to watch Cougar football games. Greg and Adele both graduated from “Cougarville” and became school teachers. Along with his beloved Cougars, Russ treasured his grandchildren. Brandon was born first, then Laura, then Garrett, and finally Zach. “Pop” was always happy to have a grandchild on his lap, their shoes and socks pulled off, cracking their toes or “pigs” as he called them. The early years with grandkids was spent camping in Twisp at Poplar Flats (or Popular Flats as the grandkids called it) and hanging out at the beach house on Treasure Island, Grapeview. Russ attended almost all of their sporting events. And he could never understand why his grandsons couldn’t pitch each time he was in attendance. He would even resort to handing candy to the coaches as bribery.
Russell became interested in old Fairbanks gas engines. In the old days, these engines were used to move grain up into elevators and to pump water for logging and cutting lumber. He was able to take these refurbished engines to shows around the area. Those engines were sold this past fall to a buyer who was as equally enthused about the old ways as Russell.
In 2006, son Greg encouraged his dad to compete in the Senior Olympics. At the age of 84, Russ set the state record in the shot put for his age group!
Russell was blessed to have seven great grandchildren. They have varying names for him…”Great Pop” or “Papajeano”. He answered to them all. These seven children will have special memories of their great grandpa who loved them dearly.
Adele and Bob moved in with Russ when he started having memory troubles and became a bit lonely. It worked out well, as his downstairs apartment was nicely remodeled to suit his needs, and Adele and Bob were just a few steps away. Adele and Russ went out for coffee most days. Russ loved his vanilla lattes, extra hot, no foam. And he was not shy about sending the drink back if it was not hot enough!
The last two months of Russell’s life were difficult. He suffered a urinary tract infection and with that infection severe dementia developed. The nurses and staff at Life Care Center in Port Orchard went above and beyond to make his final days comfortable. Many times Russ expressed the wish to be able to be with Madalynn again. His passing on Christmas Eve made it possible for them to be together once again on Christmas.
So the man born into an immigrant family back in 1923 expanded the generations of Stocks by three. First a son and daughter, then three grandsons and a granddaughter and now five great granddaughters and two great grandsons have added to Gottlieb and Charlotte’s legacy through their last son Russell. Their journey to America and Russell’s hard work made it possible for these new generations to live in homes much bigger and well-appointed than a chicken coop and to enjoy the freedom and chance to prosper that their grandparents and great grandparents set in motion.
This wonderful man will sure be missed!
Submitted by Adele Fisher