Russ Blowers - A hero, A mentor, A true man, A friend - (1924 - 2007)
Age: 83
. • Hometown: Zanesville, Ohio.
• Education: He attended Ohio State University on the GI Bill, studying journalism and commerce before realizing he had a calling to attend seminary. After getting married, he moved to Indianapolis, where he did his graduate work at Christian Theological Seminary.
• Military career: Joined the Army Air Forces when he was 18 and was assigned as a ground crewman for the 55th Fighter Group Association based in Albuquerque, N.M. Served in World War II.
• Church career: He served as pastor of East 91st Street Christian Church for 45 years. He retired to take care of his wife, Marian, who developed Alzheimer’s disease in the mid-1990s. She died in 2004.
Russ Blowers was pastor of East 91st Street Church in Indianapolis, Indiana for 46 yrs (1951 - 1996). In all my days, I have not met a more God fearing and honoring man. Russ has been a friend of mine for well over 15 years - - teaching me many things over that time period. His greatest lesson for me, and most, was his 8 year response to the situation he and his wife of 56 years, Marian, were in. Marian was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 1996, and her health steadily declined until her death in 2004. For the last 4 years of her life, Marian was in a wheelchair, unresponsive, with no way to communicate, as helpless as a newborn baby child ! Yet, everyday, you could find Russ Blowers at the Sunrise Assisted Living Community in Carmel, Indiana, holding Marian's hand, talking to her, feeding her, loving her........ for 4 years........all without any real response from Marian.........
On November 10, 2007, at the age of 83, Russ went home to be with the Lord. Next to my father, Jim Doyle, I've not known a better man.
Russ contends he is not a hero, yet I've never seen or heard of a greater display of unconditional love to another - - - just like Jesus' unconditional love for each one of us......... Without fanfare, quietly, all alone, Russ shows us in person the biblical definition of true love from I Corinthians 13:4-8..........
Russ stories - a "blogspot" dedicated to stories on Russ Blowers. The Blog was encouraged by Russ's sons, Phil and Paul, and is being managed and edited by Bob Walters.
Service of Praise and Remembrance Program - The Program from Russ's funeral on November 15, 2007
Indianapolis Star article- The life of Russ Blowers - one of the "great ones"
Obituary- from the Indianapolis Star.
An 80th Birthday Celebration - On Friday, June 25, 2004, East 91st Street Church celebrated Russ's 80th birthday. The link includes the pamphlet to the celebration!
Derek Duncan, Senior Minister, East 91st Street Church, 2003 - 2004, writes an article for the May/June 2004 E. 91st Street Edition entitled A Lasting Legacyabout the life of Marian Blowers. He writes "All who have come to know this woman, especially her husband, will testify to a life of gentleness, grace, compassion, wisdom, strength and especially now, courage."
Paul Blowers, Professor of Church history at Emmanuel School of Religion in Johnson City, Tennessee, and son of Marian Blowers, writes this article for the Elizabethton (Tennessee) Star - November 19, 2003My Mom: Friend and Fellow Servant
David Faust, current senior minister at East 91st Street church, recently visited Russ and Marian and wrote this article; A Love You Don't Fall Into
On 4/1/01, Russ taught a class on The Problem of Sufferingfor the Logos class at East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, IN..........Check out the class notes by clicking the link above......
Russ Blowers wrote this article for his very dear friend's magazine - Billy Graham's Decisionmagazine - November 2000 issue -The article is about Marian, his wife, and includes the following statement by Russ - - - - - - - - - - - "I have peace in knowing that God loves my wife even more than I do, and that He is not blind or deaf to our pain. I thank God, not for the circumstance-He doesn't expect me to say, "Thank You that Marian has this disease that is scrambling her brain." There would be no love in that statement. But I give thanks in this situation, for God is in it with us. As I love and serve Marian in her helplessness, I am also serving God. My heart overflows with praise and gratitude to God, not because I am a candidate for sainthood but because His grace is sufficient. And for that I am eternally grateful." See the entire article - - His Grace Is Sufficient
Indiana Congressman Dan Burton makes a speech on Russ Blower's retirement from East 91st Street Church - September 24, 1996. Russ Blowers. In 2005, Dan Burton is currently serving his twelfth term as a United States Representative from Indiana's Fifth Congressional District. His first term in Congress began in January of 1983.
