Mark E. Russell

Mark E. Russell passed peacefully at home in Fishers, IN cradled by his wife and son, Christopher, on March 31, 2023. Mark was born in Connersville, IN to Grantland and Martha A. Russell and grew up in Marion, IN. He was a 1969 Marion High School graduate and a member of National Honor Society, Swim, Tennis and Basketball teams. He was also an avid water skier who accomplished barefoot skiing and designed his shoe skis in shop class.

Mark led a colorful and adventurous life with many experiences including working on an organic dairy farm in South Dakota, lifeguarding on Nantucket Island Beaches, traveling to Israel and living on a Kibbutz, backpacking throughout Europe, studying and playing Appalachian banjo music in West Virginia, studying at a Monastery in Scotland, living in an authentic teepee in the southern Indiana foothills for a year, and mentoring as an apprentice in Seattle, WA in a field that became his career.

Mark graduated from IU with a teaching degree but later found his true love was on his creative side of crafting instruments from scratch. He began with creating a dulcimer that was magnificent. Mark was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship that took him to the Newark School of Violinmaking in England where he studied for years. It was there that he met his wife Lesley. They were married in Indiana and settled in Fishers, IN where he opened his shop, "Mark E. Russell Violins". Mark was a perfectionist and very passionate about his skill. Recently, he returned to IU as an instructor hoping to pass his knowledge to future instrument builders.

Mark's passion and love of life continued until his diagnosis of Prion Disease (CJD) in July 2022 which slowly and tragically robbed him of all his abilities. This extremely rare disease affects 1 in a million.

Mark is survived by his loving family; wife Lesley, daughter Virginia Hoke (Trevor), sons Michael and Christopher, mother Martha Russell, sister Linda Gallienne (Jim), grandchildren Madeline and Zoe Hoke, niece Maggie Kuharik and nephew Brad Gallienne (Rachel).

Mark joins his beloved family gone before him – father Grantland Russell, grandparents Everett Obediah and Bonnie Edwards and Clarence and Selva Russell.

Services are as follows: Flanner Buchanan Oaklawn Memorial Gardens (Conner Suite) 9700 Allisonville Road, Fishers, IN. 46250

Monday, April 10 Visitation 4-7 PM

Tuesday April 11 Visitation 12-1 PM

Tuesday April 11 Funeral 1PM

Online condolences and further information can be found at www. flannerbuchanan.com Memorial contributions can be made to cjdfoundation.org