Russell Piehl

FOREST CITY - Russell Piehl, age 48, of Forest City, died Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013. He died north of Ventura, Iowa, as a result of a medical helicopter accident.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 8, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City with Pastor Rod Hopp officiating.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7, at Petersen Lund Funeral Home, 505 N. Clark St., Forest City, and continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Funeral services will also be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 9, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Denver, Iowa, with Pastor Larry Feldt officiating. Visitation will be held at noon at the church.

Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Denver, Iowa.

Russ was born on Feb. 5, 1964, in Waterloo, Iowa. He was the son of Burton and LaVonne (Scharnhorst) Piehl.

He graduated from Denver Community High School in 1982. During his senior year, he started his EMS career as a first responder with the Denver Ambulance Service.

Over the course of the last 30 years, Russ worked at various ambulance services across the state of Iowa, also as the director of EMS services in Algona. He later became the EMS manager for training and education at North Iowa Area Community College. He was also a current member of the Forest City Ambulance Service. In 2007, Russ found his true passion as a Mercy Air Med flight paramedic in Mason City, Iowa.

In addition, Russ also served on numerous boards and committees throughout his career, most recently as a board member for the Iowa EMS Association.

Russ was an avid Green Bay Packer fanatic and shareholder. He enjoyed spending countless hours on his Harley, boating on the lakes of North Central Iowa, golfing and spending time with his wife and children, as well as spoiling grandchildren and being the best "bumpa" there is. His true passion was his ability to use the gift that God gave him, helping others in times of need and crisis, touching countless lives throughout his career.

Russ is survived by his wife, Melody Piehl; children, Kayla, Jesse, Tricia, Brandon, Courtney and Cassie; grandchildren Kaiden and Zoe; brothers, Gregg and his wife, Vicki Piehl, Doug and his wife, Colleen Piehl, Bruce and his wife, Betty Piehl. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Burton and Lavonne Piehl; and grandparents Martha and Edward Piehl and Herbert and Ida Oberheau.

"The three most important things in life are God, family and the Green Bay Packers in that order" - Vince Lombardi.

Petersen Lund Funeral Home, 641-585-2685, www.petersenlundfh.com.

Russ Piehl