Russell James Bridger, 67, died of natural causes suddenly at his home in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, prior to June 17, 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.
He is survived by siblings, Daniel (Louise Berndt) Bridger, Charles (Lynn) Bridger, Cynthia (David Jones) Bridger Boyd, Gene (Sherry) Bridger and Karin (Jon) Bush.
Russ married Sandra Draeger in 1973 in Milwaukee and had it annulled in 1978. He married Roxanne Lea Caron Bridger Gorton in 1979 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and later divorced. Surviving children of Russ and Roxanne are April Lea Bridger and Shane Alan Bridger, both of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Surviving grandchildren are Connor Robert Christensen and Aurora Eva-Lea Hagen.
He met Cheryl Rose Zaic while both were driving school buses in Minneapolis.
In 1972, Russell graduated from James Madison High School while working two jobs in Milwaukee. 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 employment with the city of Minneapolis as a Metro Transit 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.
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. Cremation services provided by Crescent Tide Cremation Services, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Russell J. Bridger
