In Memory of Russel Ackley ’62
On Thursday, May 23rd, 2019, Russell Clayton Ackley, loving husband and father of three sons, found peace at the age of 78.
Russell was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on January 4, 1941 to father Dr. H.M. Ackley and mother Marie (Krieger) Ackley . He graduated from St. John’s Military Academy in 1958 and later from Ripon College in 1962. Russ served in the Army as a Ranger in the 82nd Airborne Division during the Vietnam War and retired as a Captain in 1967. After his military service, he returned to Pewaukee where he served on the Pewaukee Village Board of Trustees and later as a Town of Delafield Supervisor.
Russ had many passions that he carried throughout his life. He loved to cook Chinese food of all types, either for his family or for large gatherings of friends. In the warmer months Russ spent many hours designing, rearranging and maintaining his many gardens with a particular affinity for hostas. He also had a great love of art. He particularly loved to paint, however, he enjoyed other mediums as well. When illness took the use of his right hand he taught himself to paint with his left. The one passion that never waned throughout his life and which he passed to his children was his love of the sport of sailing and for the Pewaukee Yacht Club. Russ started sailing at the age of eight and sailed in various fleets until his sixties and then became deeply involved in race management.
Russ is remembered by the following family members:
Loving and devoted wife of 56 years Nancy
Sons: Geoffrey Ackley, Glen (Naomi) Ackley, David (Liesl) Ackley
Granddaughters: Jordan, Suzanne, Lyndsi, Macayli
Grandson: Henry
Stepsisters: Yvonne (John) Miller, Kathleen (James) Rapinski, Carol (Peter) Strobel
Brother in Law: Walter (Sue) Hutt, niece Laura (Rob) Eschbach, and nephew Steven (Karen) Hutt
Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 5, 2019 from 1:30 – 3:00 pm, with Mass to follow from 3:00 to 4:00 pm at The Noble Victory Memorial Chapel at St. John’s Military Academy located at 409 St. John’s Road, Delafield, WI 53018. A memorial service with Military Honors will be held immediately following. A Celebration of Russell’s Life will start at 4:30 pm at the Pewaukee Yacht Club N22 W28204 Edgewater Dr. Pewaukee, WI 53072.
In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Pewaukee Lake Sailing School located at N22 W28204 Edgewater Drive, Pewaukee, WI 53072 or online at https://www.plss.org.
Special thanks to the members of the Town of Delafield Fire Department for their service.