Russell J. "Rus" Coleman, 75, of Goshen, passed away peacefully, surrounded by love, at Elkhart's Center for Hospice Care Esther's House on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 8:50 p.m., following a brief illness.

He was born on February 11, 1950, in Goshen to the late David "Skip" Coleman and Dorothy "Dot" (Keister) Smalley. On February 13, 1999, he married the love of his life and forever partner in laughter, Sharon Elizabeth (McNash) Coleman. From that day forward, they were a team — inseparable, devoted, and still holding hands decades later.

Besides Sharon, Rus is survived by his sons Jeff Coleman of Goshen, Jason Coleman of Nappanee, and Brian (Ann Marie) Arterbery of Osceola; daughters Julie Coleman of Brownsburg, Michelle (Chris Hare) Seger of Goshen, and a "bonus daughter" who held a special place in his heart, Dana (Raymond Sevier) Powell of Bloomington, Illinois. He also leaves behind his sister Debbie Kinkaid of Morristown, TN and a lively, loving bunch of grandchildren: Bailey (Violet) Coleman, Emily Coleman, Joshua Arterbery and Matthew (Mary Katherine) Arterbery, Brittney Mansell, Katie (Austin) Northcutt, Theresa (Nick) Juaire, and Ronan and Hadrian Sevier; along with great-grandchildren Gavin Mansell, Matthew, Felicity, Benedict, Becket and Jaxson Arterbery, Oliver Northcutt, and Evelyn Juaire, and his ever-present Sheltie, Marley.

Add to that a circle of dear extended family, good neighbors, and lifelong friends — especially his buddy Alfred "Veg" (Joann) Stickler of Millersburg — and you have a portrait of a man truly loved and never forgotten.

He is preceded in death by his step-mother Maxine, however Rus does have some beloved step-siblings who will remember him fondly, including Jim (Angie) McKee of Goshen, Bucky Foster of Florida and Kathy Rake of Kentucky.

Visitation for Rus will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 9–11 a.m. at Billings Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Elkhart. A celebration of life will follow at 11 a.m., led by Goshen Hospital Chaplain Whitney Stokley. Burial will take place at Little Pine Creek Cemetery in Goshen, where full military honors will be rendered by the U.S. Army Funeral Honor Guard, the Elkhart County Veterans Funeral Honor Guard, and the Northern Indiana Patriot Guard.

Rus proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era, earning the rank of Specialist. He served both "in country" and in Germany, where he kept the wheels of the Army turning by maintaining and driving every kind of military vehicle imaginable. He returned home a proud veteran, humble but steadfast in his patriotism — the kind of man who'd stand up a little straighter when the flag passed by.

Over the years, Rus wore a few different work hats, but the one he loved most was as a driver transporting brand-new RVs and travel trailers throughout the region. He took great pride in that job, logging thousands of miles while almost never missing dinner at home. It was important to him that he was not away from his beloved Sharon for too long. She often tagged along, and the two of them turned those routes into adventures — singing to the radio, swapping jokes, and sharing quiet moments on open roads.

Their favorite "dates" weren't fancy dinners or big nights out, but spontaneous day trips to "Wander Indiana." They'd pick a road they'd never driven before and stop at some local hole-in-the-wall diner — the kind with great pie, mismatched mugs, and stories waiting at every counter stool. Rus never met a stranger, and he loved good conversation almost as much as a good meal.

When he wasn't on the road, you could often find Rus and Sharon at the DAV or VFW — dancing, laughing, and catching up with friends. A proud lifetime member of both, he rarely missed a Saturday night. In earlier years, he even took to the drag strip for a bit of friendly racing, and he loved a good tractor pull, a weekend of camping (his first "RV" was a converted school bus he tinkered together himself), or a day spent hunting, fishing, or perfecting his archery skills. Many of these activities he enjoyed even more while being accompanied by children Jeff, Julie and Jason.

Rus was also a loyal Chicago Bears and Purdue Boilermakers fan — though he had a friendly inner rivalry with himself when Marcus Freeman, a former Bear, took the helm as coach of the Fighting Irish. Rus handled that conflict the way he handled most things: with a grin, a shrug, and a good-natured wisecrack.

Above all, Rus was a man with a big heart and an even bigger capacity for love. He adored his family — especially his grandkids and great-grandkids — and they returned that love tenfold. Whether you knew him as "Dad," "Grandpa," "Pops," or simply "Rus," you knew a man who was genuine, loyal, funny, and kind to the core.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to the Council on Aging for their immeasurable support during Rus's illness, and to all those who lifted him up in friendship and care. Therefore, memorial donations may be made to the Council on Aging.

To honor Rus's memory, take a drive down a road you've never traveled, stop at a diner that smells like bacon or pancakes, and talk to the folks at the next table. That's how Rus would have wanted to be remembered — out in the world, making friends, telling stories, and loving the ride.