Russell Howard Christiansen Jr. was born August 6, 1946, in Tacoma, Washington to Bernice S. Swanberg and Russell Christiansen Sr. After a brief illness, Russ passed away peacefully in the presence of his family on July 28, 2019. Russ was proud to call Tacoma home and cherished growing up there, playing for the Cheney Stud football team, racing soapbox derby cars, attending many Daffodil parades, and enjoying two cheeseburgers and a chocolate shake at Frisco Freeze. He attended many schools including Jason Lee Jr. High and Stadium High School, graduating in 1964. While attending school, Russ held several leadership positions including student council and was also very active in sports and student band. One of his proudest accomplishments was being accepted to the University of Washington. While at UW, he studied construction management and was involved with ROTC. Russ became a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, where he held several leadership positions including rush chairman and IFC President and was a big brother to several of his fraternity brothers. During the summers in high school and college, Russ worked for his uncle fishing in Alaska and California, where he experienced several challenges as a young man, including being shipwrecked off the coast of Eureka, California in 1965. In 1972, he married Anna Cummings and became a stepfather to Scott Kimbel & Suzy Eberle. In 1974 Anna and Russ welcomed their only son, Erik. After Erik was born, Russ and Anna made their home in Ballard where Russ continued to be active in coaching and with community projects for over 40 years. After college, Russ began his career as a General Contractor in the construction industry for Burfitt Construction where he worked for several years before forming his own company, Case Construction in 1982. For over 30 years as owner and CEO of Case Construction, Russ proudly built and remodeled several buildings around the Pacific Northwest, leaving his mark on the Seattle skyline for generations to come. Russ continued his community involvement through Case Construction by building and remodeling two Boys and Girls Clubs within the community. He also donated his time and financial support to local youth sports and other community causes. Russ continued his love of sports throughout the 70s and 80s, becoming a softball coach, as well as a coach and eventually president for Ballard Junior Football. Throughout his coaching career, Russ developed several high caliber championship softball teams and won various state titles, leading him to be inducted into the USSSA Washington hall of fame. After retiring from construction, Russ found a new family with his beloved Seattle Mariners, where he became a gate attendant, working most of the home games until his death. During his time working with the Mariners, Russ was recognized several times for his leadership and customer service within the organization, which were some of his proudest moments. Russ was fortunate to be a grandfather to six wonderful children. In 2006 and 2009 he became a grandfather to Sophia and Lauren, Erik’s daughters, where he found his true joy in life as a doting grandfather, attending all of their choir performances and CYO sporting events, and he made it a priority to attend every Seattle University softball game, where his granddaughter Sarah played. As a proud Norwegian, he loved attending the Siet-de-Mai parade every May, as well as carrying on several Norwegian traditions with his grandkids. Russ loved his family and did everything he could to support them. He enjoyed holiday gatherings, summer barbecues and any other excuse for the family to gather. He is survived by his brother, Robert Christiansen, his sister, Kristine Woodward, his half-sister, Deborah Long (nee Christiansen), his stepson, Scott Kimbel (Kelly) and stepdaughter Suzy Eberle (Jeff), his son Erik Christiansen (Katie) and his grandchildren; Kelsea Clayton (Heath), Sarah Petosa, Kenny Kimbel, Bobby Petosa, and Sophia and Lauren Christiansen. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernice Swanberg and Russell Christiansen, Sr. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your local Boys and Girls club or The Medic One foundation in Russ’s memory.