RJ (Russ Bullard)

[vanagon40]

Russ “R.J.” Bullard passed away at his home Thursday, November 26, 2015.
Russ was born in Panora, Iowa to James and Alice Bullard.

He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps for three years, during which time he earned two Purple Hearts. Russ retired in 1996 from the State of Iowa. He had a passion for motorcycles and riding his Honda Valkyrie. Russ enjoyed charity poker runs with his son, Rex and visiting 48 of the 50 states with his daughter, Valarie on his motorcycle. He also loved attending the sporting events of grandsons, Austin and Noah and dance recitals of granddaughters, Meghan and Addison. Russ was a member of the American Legion, American Legion Riders, VFW, AMA, VRCC and various other motorcycle enthusiast clubs.

Russ is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Bev; children, Valarie Meyer, Rex (Amber) Bullard and Debbie Shepard; several grandchildren; and a host of extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Obituary

Maybe first RJ tribute thread

[old2soon]

         I Miss his wise counsel and his pithy comments. And the jokes and stories he seemed to always come up with. da prez and I stopped in Des Moines after Spearfish and looking back now-cursed Glad we took the time to stop and visit. Semper Fi R J. R I P Marine. GOD Bless.

[Oss]

I got to stop by his place twice.   As soon as one of his kids left the house he got rid of their bedrooms so eventually he had a 1 huge bedroom home.
He had a very ribald sense of humor sending stuff in the email to his friends  Really appreciated the female form is a nice way to say it

The last time I saw him on the way to Spearfish he offered to loan me his trike (not the big one but the green one) as my Valk was stuck at a honda dealer waiting on a rear tire.  Bless his heart he was settin on the bike and it would not start. Finally I asked him was the petcock on.  Even with the O2 he had a thunderous laugh (and coughs)

I miss him, great heart and a good guy

[RainMaker]

I visited with RJ twice, the first time meeting him for Lunch in Des Moines in 2014 at the Iowa Machine Shed and then on the way to Spearfish in 2015 at his home.  We hatched a plan in 2014 to escort him while he drove his pickup and trailered the trike to Spearfish, but that plan was squashed by doctors about 6 months later.  So instead, I hopped on the Valkyrie at 6am in Arlington, TX and got to his house at 6:00pm in Des Moines, Iowa.  He regaled me with stories of his time in the Marines, his heart bypass surgery followed by the purchase of MGM and his ride across the country while recovering from the heart surgery and all of the fine folks we both knew and some I did not.  A wonderful 3 hours that went so fast.

I am very blessed to have met RJ Bullard.



RainMaker

[MAD6Gun]

 RJ was a great gruff ol marine. But he had a heart of gold. When my brother and I drove across the country to CA to get a parts car for my Pontiac we stopped in Des Moines on our first stop. RJ met us at the hotel when we checked in. He's standing there tapping his credit card on the counter. When I asked what he was doing he said " Damnit if I had room at my house for guys you would be staying with us but I don't so I'm paying for your hotel and that's all there is to it".  

 On the way out to Spearfish like a few others Twila and I made a stop to see him. He has never met my wife but when I told him about her before he thought her name was Sheala. We got a chuckle out of that one. We visited for a little while. I had to leave to rescue Oss at the Honda dealer. He blew a tire right outside of Des Moines. Brought him back to RJs and RJ offered to loan Evan his trike for the trip to Spearfish. After taking it for a short spin he declined.

 RJ  was a great guy...

[Bagger John - #3785]

He got a bunch of 1/5-scale Valkyrie Standard models for us back in the day. I still have both of mine (one N-I-B) and I'm pretty sure my riding partner/coworker CMeNot still has his.

RIP, Russ. And thank you.