We don't worship Charles Taze Russell. We recognize him as founding the Jehovah's Witness organization. The reason we don't worship Jesus is because we only owe our worship to Jehovah God,not his son.
As it says in Matthew 4:10-Then Jesus said to him::"Go away,Satan! For it is written,'It is Jehovah your God you must worship,and it is to him alone you must render sacred service."
They believe God sees only the outside of you and what you do in your life...door to door work, not celebrating this and that...they do not teach that God knows and listens to your heart..
If you think JWs worship Russell then you don't know JWs very well. JWs moved beyond Russell because he was just a man, and JWs don't engage in creature worship. JWs stopped publishing Russell's works not long after he died.
However, many early JW splinter groups still follow Russell, and still make use of his writings. Your question would more appropriately be directed at them.
He is held in high esteem, which is quite ironic, because:
1. Pastor Russell (though they don't believe any anybody should be called a "pastor" but Russell) and others used "independent thinking" to establish the roots of their religion. Now "independent thinking" can get you tossed from the Kingdom Hall, and would cost you all your friendships.
2. If Russell taught today, what he taught at the beginning of that religion/sect/denomination/cult/whatever you want to call it, Russell would be "disfellowshipped" from his local congregation.
3. The JW's teach that pagan teachings should be avoided, but near Russell's grave is a marker honoring Russell that contains man pagan/masonic symbols.
4. He was a false prophet. (His prediction of the end of the world didn't happen.
btw, I'm not sure how JW's teach that Russell is going to heaven, but if you and I believe what Russell taught, we would not make it.