Joseph Michael Russell, age 54, died unexpectedly on August 28th. He
was born December 19, 1970, in Milwaukee to Thomas J. Russell, M.D.
and the late Harriet J. Russell. Joe is survived by his spouse, Heather M.
Downs Russell, J.D., and children Haddon, Harrison and Hunter; his father
Thomas J. Russell, M.D.; his brother Thomas J. Russell Jr., J.D.
(Constance); his sister Mary Russell McKeown, M.D. (Michael); his brother
James P. Russell, M.D. (Laura) and eight nieces and nephews of the
Russell family. In addition, Mustafa Ugurlu, M.D. is considered a loved
sibling. Joe is also survived by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ryan A.
and Mary Downs, brother-in-laws Jason P., and Ryan M. Downs (Marissa)
and seven nieces and nephews of the Downs family.

Joe attended Marquette University High School (‘89), Georgetown
University (B.A., magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa (‘93)) and then worked
for the United States Department of Justice (Civil Division - Torts Branch)
for two years. He continued his education at Trinity College, Dublin
(M.Phil.); University of Wisconsin-Madison (M.A.) and Northwestern
University (J.D., Law Review).

After graduating from law school in 2003, Joe joined the Chicago office of
the law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP in corporate litigation where he became a partner and worked for 10 years. In 2013, after moving back to his hometown of  Milwaukee, he became a partner with the law firm von Briesen & Roper, S.C.

Throughout Joe’s life, he was committed to a strong sense of justice. He
had a passion and calling to serve others. While engaged in a busy law
practice and raising a family, Joe desired to live a life of purpose and to be
a servant leader for others. Providing pro bono representation for prison
inmates, the mentally ill and other under-represented individuals was Joe’s
true north calling. He received recognition for his commitment to pro bono
work with multiple awards, including the 2012 Access Living Lead On!
Award in Illinois for his class action role on compliance of statutory
mandates for 4,000 individuals in state-funded institutions for the mentally
ill. Joe also received the 2019 Seventh Circuit Bar Association Pro Bono &
Public Service Award for his work in the U.S. District Courts of Wisconsin.

Joe was equally committed to his Catholic faith. He served as a frequent
Mass lector and was a member of the Lumen Christi Catholic Church
Pastoral Council for several years. Joe enjoyed working with Father Dan
and Father Matthew and could not have been prouder when his children
served at Mass.

When Joe was in an English PhD. program at the University of Wisconsin-
Madison, he met a law student, Heather Downs, in 1999 at Paul’s Club on
State Street. Joe’s charm, quick wit and dashing good looks enamored
Heather instantaneously. They married on June 23, 2001 in Door County.
Joe and Heather lived in downtown Chicago where they started their family.
On the eve of Joe’s daughter Haddon’s birth, Heather vividly recalled Joe
toiling away at the office on a pro bono matter that needed to be filed by
midnight. Fortunately, Haddon held off her arrival until the early morning
hours! Then, Joe was more than delighted when his son Harrison and
daughter Hunter were born on his birthday - December 19th!

At heart, Joe was an academic. He loved his Irish literature - Yeats, Synge,
Joyce and Wilde to name a few. A perfect night-in for Joe was simple: all
he needed was a book, spectacles, a pen in one hand and a pint in the
other.

Joe also had a lifetime interest in sports. As a youth, he was a member of
the U10 Bavarian State Champion soccer team and he ran cross country at
MUHS until knee issues forced withdrawal. Joe was a MUHS tennis
doubles pair unbeaten until a dislocated shoulder. He was also a player on
the Trinity College varsity basketball team in league play in Ireland. Joe
enjoyed skiing with his family, attending Harrison’s youth baseball, football
and basketball games as well as Haddon and Hunter’s cross country and
track meets. He avidly followed the Badgers, Packers and his beloved
Brewers.

Joe was unwavering in faith, unwavering in love and unwavering when it
mattered most. He didn’t seek status or publicity. Heather, Haddon, Harrison and Hunter meant everything to him. They knew it in his every small, steady act. Joe’s understated wisdom, good counsel and wry sense of humor was valued by all who knew him. He will be deeply missed by all. We were lucky indeed for having known Joe Russell!

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Lumen Christi Catholic Church in
Mequon at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 6th. Visitation will be held
from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. prior to the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests contributions be made to
Marquette University High School, Divine Savior Holy Angels High School or Lumen Christi Catholic School.