Bancroft, Rushton R. "Russ" Rushton R. Russ Bancroft Jr., age 71 of Fremont, passed away Thursday, November 30, 2006 at his home following a long illness. Russ was born on April 21, 1935 in Traverse City, Michigan to Rushton R. and Iva Fay (Linsea) Bancroft. Russ attended Michigan State University where he met and married Nancy Ann VanEpps on September 2, 1960 in East Lansing. Russ graduated with a Bachelors of Electrical Engineering and Engineering Scientist Degree in 1966 from Michigan State University and started work for Honeywell Ordinance in Hopkins, Minnesota, moved to start work at Pillsbury Corporation in Pottstown, Pennsylvania and soon moved to Fremont in 1971 when he started work at Gerber Products Company where he worked for many years until his retirement as a Senior Project Engineer. Russ served in the United States Army and United States Army Reserve from 1952 until 1963. He had been a member of Pilgrim Lodge F&AM 180 in Fremont where he served as Master of the Lodge for 3 terms and was voted Mason of the Year in 1988. Russ was also a member of the Newaygo Pilgrim Lodge F&AM #131. He was a 32nd Degree Mason in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Grand Rapids. Russ also enjoyed photography, training horses and had been a 4-H leader. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Nancy of Fremont; his daughters, Jill Ann Bancroft of Neilsville, Wisconsin; Ann Elizabeth Bancroft of White Cloud; his grandchildren, Billy Todd Zeitler, Zachary Zeitler , Amanda Ann Zeitler and William Alexander Rushton Bancroft; his mother, Iva Fay Fisher of Lansing; his sister, Beverly (Jerome) Bockes of Lansing; his mother-in-law, Genevieve VanEpps of Lansing; 1 niece and 2 nephews. Funeral services were held on Monday, December 4, 2006 from the Crandell Funeral Home Fremont Chapel with Rev. Larry Wood of the Fremont United Methodist Church presiding. Friends may consider Heartland Hospice or Fremont United Methodist Church for memorial contributions in memory of Russ. Friends may also send a condolence or share a memory with the Bancroft family online at www.crandellfh.com. Arrangements by Crandell Funeral Home Fremont Chapel. Share a free confidential condolence to the Bancroft Family on-line