Announcement

With great sadness, this is to announce that my brother Russ has passed away from us, as of June 17, 2022.

His obituary can be seen at the following link: https://epilogg.com/obituary/russell-james-bridger-brooklyn-center-mn-usa-5164

Russell James Bridger, 67, died of natural causes suddenly at his home in Minneapolis, Mn prior to June 17th, 2022. He was home alone at the time of his death. Born July 22, 1954 to Donald James Bridger and Agnes C Konitzer Bridger Bast. Survived by siblings: Daniel (Louise Berndt) Bridger, Crivitz, WI, Charles (Lynn) Bridger, Milwaukee, WI, Cynthia (David Jones) Bridger Boyd, Sarasota, FL, Gene (Sherry) Bridger, Mount Jackson, VA and Karin (Jon) Bush, Graceville, FL. Russ married Sandra Draeger in 1973 at Milwaukee WI, Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church - Annulled 1978. He married Roxanne Lea Caron Bridger Gorton in 1979 at Las Vegas, NV. She was born in 1955 at St. Paul MN. He met Cheryl Rose Zaic while both were driving school buses in Minneapolis. She was born in 1956 at Minneapolis, MN. Surviving children of Russ and Roxanne are April Lea Bridger and Shane Alan Bridger, both of Minneapolis, MN. Surviving grandchildren are Connor Robert Christensen, born 2006 and Aurora Eva-Lea Hagen, born 2016.

Russell graduated from James Madison High School while working two jobs in Milwaukee in 1972. He then pursued a career in the finance industry, working his way up to office and branch manager, transferring to California and eventually Minneapolis. There, in Minnesota, he met and married Roxanne, the mother of his children. After many years in a high pressure field of employment, he had enough and decided to get out, obtaining a job driving a school bus. Driving for them, he gained experience, eventually leading to getting hired by the city of Minneapolis as a Metro Transit city bus driver. With numerous safe driving awards, he retired at 62 and was living comfortably. Russell enjoyed living his life the way he wanted to and was always upbeat and a happy person. You could ask him anything and always get an honest answer. He would never expect you to agree with him and felt everyone had a right to their own opinion. A very talented and accomplished writer, you can read his outstanding article called "A Day in the Life of a Bus Driver" below. Russ will be cremated and a private family service will be arranged at a later date, as he requested in a letter to his children.