Russell Pressey

Russell Pressey of Athens, Georgia, passed away November 19, 2013 at the age of 78.
Russell was fifth of ten children born to Eugenie "Jenny" and Michael Prysiazniuk on a large farm near Pine River, Manitoba, Canada, about 325 miles north of the U.S. border. Growing up, he attended the beautiful Ukrainian Orthodox church in Pine River, and through grade eight went to Rosa school, a one-room country school which Russell's father helped to build, about a mile from their farm place.
On cold, snowy days, Russell's father hitched horses to a "caboose," a wooden enclosure on sled rails with benches and a wood-burning stove inside, to transport the family's children to school.
For grades nine through eleven, Russell attended high school in Pine River, boarding with his grandmother who lived in town. For grade twelve, Russell attended United College in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Russell then attended the University of Manitoba, obtaining a Bachelor's degree in chemistry and graduating at the top of his class, and then a Master's degree in orgainic chemistry.
From there, Russell went to Iowa State University to earn a PhD in biochemistry. It was there he met his future wife, Barbara Goshorn. They were married in 1962.
Russell spent two years doing research for General Mills, Inc. in Minneapolis. Then he took a research position with the U.S. Department of Agriculture at the Red River Valley Potato Processing Laboratory in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. During that time, he and his growing family resided in Grand Forks, North Dakota. In 1969, Russell transferred to the Richard Russell Research Center in Athens, Georgia, where he retired in 1996, having authored a hundred research publications during his career.
Among the joys of Russell's life was going back to Canada in the fall and helping his brother on the farm with the grain harvest. After retirement, he enjoyed time with his grandchildren and spending many days dawn to dusk working in the yard, his garden and orchard, providing his family and others with fruit and vegetables. He was the ultimate handy man, restoring furniture, inventing ways of doing things better, keeping everything in good repair, often fixing things before they were broken.
Russell is predeceased by his parents, two sisters, a brother and five brothers-in-law. Left to miss his good-humored company and kindly, generous ways are his wife, Barbara; four sons and daughters-in-law: Edward "Wally" Pressey (Ann) of Winterville, Andrew Pressey (Melissa) of Athens, Joseph Pressey (Christine) of Birmingham, Alabama, and Matthew Pressey (Jennifer) of Lilburn; grandchildren, Hannah Pressey, Thomas Pressey, Madelyn Pressey, Michael Pressey, and Sophia Pressey; sisters Shirley Prysiazniuk, Nettie Pretula, and Vicky Dzikowski all of Winnipeg, and Jeanette Shewchuk of St. Francois Xavier, Manitoba; sister-in-law Beryl Pressey of Winnipeg; brothers Taras (Gladys) Prysiazniuk of Nanaimo, British Columbia; and Hellar Prysiazniuk (Shirley) of Beausejour, Manitoba, and many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends Saturday from 4:00 until 6:00 PM at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Athens Empty Stocking Fund.