Russel John Koontz, 47, son of Ronald and Julia Koontz, was born Aug. 19, 1956, at Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Conn. He died March 16, 2004. He had struggled with diabetes for several years. He grew up in New Haven, Conn., and married Debra Jean Languerand Oct. 25, 1980. They had four children. After getting married, the Koontz moved to Missouri and stayed in the Elk Creek area. He drove a truck for many years until his diabetes took him off the road. He owned a meat processing plant six years before his health failed. He logged for a time and worked for Mansfield Rock Quarry, where he was a rock driller. He loved the outdoors. He was preceded in death by his father; grandparents, Russel and Mildred Koontz; and a brother, Eric. Surviving are his wife of 24 years; two sons, Glen Languerand of Vanzant and Jason Koontz of Mountain Grove; two daughters, Jenny Koontz of Elk Creek and Becky Koontz of Mountain Grove; his mother of Connecticut; two sisters, Vicki and Marion of Connecticut; two brothers, Gary and Philip of Connecticut; and four grandchildren. Graveside services were March 19 at the Pleasant Grove Cemetery near Cabool with the Rev. Ken Johnson officiating under the direction of Elliott-Gentry Funeral Home of Cabool. “
