Russell Byron Hahn

Russell (Russ) Byron Hahn passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 21, 2023.
Russ was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan. He was an outstanding high school athlete, describing himself as "not fast, but aggressive." The 1961-62 Bulldogs team was one of the first undefeated teas in St. Charles history, recently being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Upon graduation, he earned a football scholarship to the University of Wyoming where he played for one year. He was the drafted into the United States Army and was stationed in Puerto Rico for the duration of his service. He often spoke fondly of driving ambulances, delivering other food/medical supplies and much to this delight, transporting senior officers around the base. His favorite things about Puerto Rico were the coffee which "was thick and kept you going" and the 10 cent green bottles of Corona beer )which goes great with food, especially red beans and rice.) When Russ returned to Michigan, he continued his career as a self-described professional driver transporting dynamite nationally and delivering home heating oil and agricultural chemicals throughout Michigan to Ohio. He got to know many of the dogs on his routes and always carried biscuits to share with his favorites. He estimated he drove over 3 million miles in his career and the only states he was never able to visit were, Maine, Hawaii, and Alaska. Russ described his life as on lived outdoors. He loved to hunt deer, squirrel, rabbit, partridge, and pheasant, and fished for brook and rainbow trout at his property in Mesick, MI. In 1997, he brought in one of the largest 8-point bucks in Saginaw County.
Russell and his wife, Fredricka (Rickie) were married for 49 years in February 2023. they lived in Washington and Texas for several years before returning home to St. Charles in 1981. He kept active throughout his adult life, golfing, bowling, and playing basketball while also volunteering as an umpire for youth softball. He loved to garden, plant flowers and trees and watch hockey with his daughter, Leslie. Debating sports was his wheelhouse and he would never miss an opportunity to debate superstar athletes. Those who met Russ later in life described him as gruff at first, but extremely funny and sweet. Russ will be uniquely missed by all who had the pleasure of meeting him.
He is survived by his wife Rickie; daughter, Leslie; and several grand-cats, Reilly, Sprite, and Littleford; grand-turtle, Page; three sisters, Jan (Jerry) Heidt, Betty Kocur, and Kathy Hahn; and several nieces and nephews, He was predeceased by his father, Norman; mother, Elizabeth; brothers, Louis, Steve, and Michael.
A visitation will take place on Monday, June 26, 2023 from 4:00pm till 8:00pm, at McGeehan Funeral Home, 209 Entrepreneur Drive, St. Charles. A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 11:00am, with visitation one hour before the service, at McGeehan Funeral Home in St. Charles. Cremation will follow.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the St. Charles Athletic Association or one of the following animal rescues: Harbor Humane (www.harborhumane.org) or the Beagle Freedom Project (https://love.bfp.org/fundraiser/4780185). Russ would loved nothing more than to support St. Charles football or to help animals in need.