He was born on May 25, 1952, in Prentice, Wisconsin, son of the late Henry E. and Edna (Tapani) Hinsa. Russ was happily married to Wendy Carlson on July 30, 1977, at the First Lutheran Church in Prentice. Their partnership was built on love and companionship, often reflected in their time spent together while Russ worked as an over-the-road truck driver, frequently traveling with Wendy by his side. His CB Handle, "Cranberry," was a nod to his first job at a cranberry marsh, and it stuck with him throughout his life. As their family grew with the addition of two daughters, Russ shifted his focus to sales to spend more time at home with them.
Russ's journey through life was marked by a dedicated career in the logging and forestry industry. He began as an equipment operator and gained invaluable experience that led him to positions in sales and appraisal. When his daughters were young, he transitioned from over-the-road driving to sales with Scaffidi Truck Center in Tomahawk for many years, followed by Ponsse North America in Rhinelander, which allowed him to connect with his Finnish heritage through several trips to Finland. Subsequently, he went on to utilize his extensive knowledge of logging and forestry equipment to start Hinsa Equipment and Appraisal, a venture he continued to be actively involved in until his passing.
He cherished spending time with others, finding joy in good conversations over coffee. Many of the relationships that began as customers became life-long friendships for Russ. He loved his home on Lake Nokomis and all the joys that came with living on the water. He also enjoyed the camaraderie and time spent with friends and family at "the cabin." He was an avid dog lover and always had at least one furry companion by his side, most recently his beloved dog, Saimaa. He enjoyed racing and driving just about anything – his trucks, boat, UTV, or his Harley-Davidson.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 48 years, Wendy Hinsa of Tomahawk; daughter Lacey (Matt) Piekarski of Stevens Point; granddaughters Emilia, Eliza, and Ella; sister Alice (Ron) Nichols of Madison; brother Edward Hinsa of Madison; and many nieces and nephews. Additionally, he is remembered by his mother-in-law, Betty J. Carlson of Prentice; sister-in-law Cheryl (Tom) Griffiths of Kronenwetter; and brother-in-law Warren D. (Rachel) Carlson of Prentice.
He was preceded in death by his parents, beloved daughter Krista Caley Hinsa, sister Anita Raasch, brother-in-law Harv Raasch, sister-in-law Georgia Hinsa, father-in-law Warren E. Carlson, and many cherished friends.
Memorial service will be held at 11:30 A.M. on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Grace Lutheran Church, 108 W. Somo Ave., Tomahawk. Rev. Kathy Tulman and Rev. Haley Halsted will officiate. Visitation will be from 9:00 A.M. until the time of service at the church.
