Russell “Russ” Dean Mountain

Russell “Russ” Dean Mountain, 65, of Franklin, GA, died on September 5, 2025, and was born on July 22, 1960, in Waterloo, Iowa, to John E. and Marilyn F. Nicol Mountain. He moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL with his family in 1972 and graduated from Boyd Anderson High School in 1978.

Throughout his life, Russ was known for his hard work and diverse skills. He began his career as a certified mechanic for Bobcat and Ditch Witch in South Florida before moving to Atlanta in 1994, where he served as a Range Supervisor at the Fulton County Gun Range. A true “man’s man” with a love for the outdoors and animals, he also became a licensed farrier, running his own business, the Bar T Ranch. For the last 20 years of his career, he worked as a dedicated truck driver, performing long-haul runs between Atlanta and California until his retirement in late 2024.

Russ was a man of many passions. He was an avid hunter and fisherman who preferred working with his hands over watching television. He spent his free time building motorcycles, crafting knives, and working in his home armory where he built guns and loaded ammunition.

Russ is survived by his wife, Christine Bartel Mountain; his brothers, Rod (Cathy) Mountain of Plain City, Ohio, John (Suzanne) Mountain of Temple, Georgia, and Phil (Shannon) Mountain of Reno, Nevada; and his sister, Jolyn Lennox of Waterloo, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister-in-law, Cheryl Mountain.

Russ put his heart and soul into everything he did. We miss him very much.

A family directed memorial service in Russ’ honor will be Sunday, June 21, 2026, at 2:00 PM, at Garden of Memories Cemetery, 3669 Logan Ave., Waterloo, IA.