2016 Julie Durr

Eric and JulieJULIE DURR

Riding in honor of her father Russ Gerdin

Age 45 ~ Solon, IA

Event Planner

Honored by iadn.org

Julie Durr is honoring her father Russ Gerdin by participating as a rider on this year’s float.  Russ was born in Princeton, MN to a humble and hard-working trucking family.  In 1967 Russ married Ann and started his own trucking company, Heartland Express.  In 1978, the two moved their three children to Iowa City to expand both their business and their family.  In 2006, Russ was diagnosed with liver cancer. Shortly after, he received a liver transplant.  The Gerdin family was more than overwhelmed with the gift of life and years someone gave Russ.  From 2006-2011, Russ was able to build Heartland’s new corporate office, see five more grandchildren come into the world, celebrate his 40th wedding anniversary and visit many places he had still wanted to see.

Julie’s Story

Russ Gerdin (1941-2011) was born in Princeton, MN into a humble and hard-working trucking family.  His younger years were spent helping his dad repair trucks, haul freight and learn about bookkeeping.  This is where his passion for trucking grew quickly and Heartland Express was first imagined.
In 1967, Russ married Ann (Mikkelsen) and they moved to southwest Iowa and started their first trucking company.  In 1978, the couple, with their three young children moved to Iowa City, IA.  As Heartland grew, so did their family.  In March 2006, when Russ was first diagnosed with liver cancer, he had a lot left to do on his bucket list and only five of his twelve grandchildren had been born.
Russ was placed on the transplant list and the waiting began.  Luckily, the wait wasn’t too long and Russ was still feeling pretty well in September of 2006 when the call came and Russ received his liver at the University of Iowa.  The Gerdin family was more than overwhelmed with the gift of life and years someone gave Russ.  Not a day went by that mixed emotions of gratitude, thankfulness and sadness went by for our donor.
From 2006-2011, Russ battled lung cancer, meningitis, and encephalitis which is ultimately what took his life.  Even though those years were at times a struggle, Russ was able to build Heartland’s new corporate office in North Liberty, see five more grandchildren come into the world, celebrate his 40th wedding anniversary with his wife and visit many places he still wanted to see.
The Gerdin family is eternally grateful to their donor and organ donation for giving them the gift of life and time.