Russell Joseph "Jack" Huff passed away peacefully at home on September 7, 2023, as loved ones surrounded him and prayed The Divine Mercy chaplet.

Russ was born on February 24, 1936, during a fierce winter storm in a small hospital on the south side of Chicago. He attended Catholic school until his high school years when he transferred to the local public school. He prospered there, met life-long friends, including the girl he would eventually marry.

During his time in Catholic school, Sister Mary Philip encouraged him to consider the priesthood and after personally discerning this vocation, he attended University of Notre Dame and the Holy Cross Fathers in September 1953.

Notre Dame proved academically challenging but also provided a time of training in the religious life, discipline, and learning virtues of patience and endurance. Of course, The Fighting Irish meant football, which he adored: God, Country, Notre Dame – that was his mindset and many other fans. But if you ever saw Russ watch their football games, it could also be a time of high blood pressure. You surely wanted to avoid watching the game with Russ if the Irish were playing poorly!

After graduating with a degree in Philosophy and a minor in Latin, his next stop was the seminary. To his surprise, Russ was assigned to the Seminario de Santa Cruz in Santiago, Chile.

Chile was truly magnificent. He enjoyed spectacular views of the snow-topped Andes and lush vineyards, played baseball on two national championship teams at the post-university level, traveled to Argentina and Uruguay, preached on Sundays (not always successfully, he would add) to the poorest of the poor, learned fluent Spanish, and found a sincere love for the Chilean people.

After earning a Master of Divinity, he returned to the United States, and on December 23, 1962, Russ was ordained. Among his many chaplain assignments at Notre Dame, he also served as the executive editor of the Catholic Boy and Miss monthly magazines.

During this time, Vatican Council II caused a huge upheaval in the Church and many clergy began to leave. While feeling pulled to leave as well, Russ decided to pursue a master's degree in communication arts at Notre Dame. But the changes continued and in early 1968, Russ knew it was time to leave the priesthood.

Those 11 years in Holy Cross provided countless learning opportunities, achievements, and skills, but most importantly, a closeness with our Lord God and Savior. After this profound experience and time seeking and serving God, he felt priestly for the rest of his life.

Life in the big world was a maze of adjustments. He just missed the draft age for those called to fight in Vietnam and was lucky to quickly find a job as Managing Editor of Nation's Schools, a McGraw Hill publication.

He also realized that the girl he had taken to the prom lived a few miles away, now a widow with a seven-month-old daughter.Russ and Diane reconnected, bonds formed, and love happened. On December 28, 1968, they married.

Russ' career continued down the communications pathway. He held several positions with Sears, Roebuck and Co, first in the public relations department, then as the Director of Public Relations for Homart Development Co, a wholly-owned Sears subsidiary that built major shopping centers around the country. A few years later, he became the Vice President of Public Relations and then Director of Public Relations for Sears International, traveling to Latin America and Europe to open shopping centers overseas.

But soon Sears would be pushed off its long-held position as the world's number one retailer. By mid-1982, Russ became part of the downsizing. A deep recession made that next step a difficult one to take. During the priesthood, he wrote two books from his Latin American experiences and during the last few years at Sears, he returned to writing but this time about a new interest:aviation memorabilia. During his free time, he began writing books on a very niche market of World War II insignia.

One day, he told Diane they were moving to Florida. He found a property management job and off they went. He continued his hobby work on the side and eventually hung up his real estate hat to pursue his hobby as full-time work. Over the years, he would publish more books and become known as an expert in the field.

Life in Florida was grand! Russ enjoyed fishing and living in paradise. His daughter married and his little family grew to one more. Doug was the son he never had. Russ and Diane enjoyed many trips to Texas, where Michelle and Doug lived, plus countless cross-country excursions in their RV (all 50 states) and many cruises (40 countries).

When grandchildren came along, Russ found a new sense of purpose and fulfillment. He adored his grandchildren, Maddie and Carson, and spoiled them every chance he got.

To be closer to family, Russ and Diane settled in Sun City, Georgetown, Texas, in 2010. Russ loved watching the grandkids grow.  He found Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church and made many friends there.

Russ believed that God looked after him throughout his life, pulling him out of difficulties, blessing his family and work, and truly giving him 87 years of high-quality living. Ultimately, he was ready to leave this earthly life with his bags packed, ready for the next grand adventure in heaven. As he would say,please don't cry at his passing. Rather, rejoice! He lived a wonderful life and is joyfully passing on to an even better one in paradise. He and his favorite pup, Murphy, will be waiting at the gates when it is your turn to cross over from death to the joys awaiting in eternal life.

Russ is survived by his wife, Diane, of 54 years, his daughter Michelle, his two grandchildren, Maddie and Carson. He is preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Marie Huff, and his son-in-law Doug.

A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, October 21, 11:00 a.m., at Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church, 6571 FM 970, Florence, Texas 76527.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church Food Pantry, 6571 FM 970, Florence, Texas 76527-4473