KENNETH ELLIS

TAYLOR, ELLIS, OLSON, RUCKDASCHEL, MEYER, HARRIS, HELGERSON, HULL, BRUCKNER

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 2/21/2003 at 19:13:10

KENNETH ELLIS

Kenneth Ellis, son of John Pearl and Carrie Jane (Taylor) Ellis, was born June 9, 1908 in Postville, Iowa. He died Saturday, July 24, 1993 in the Good Samaritan Center at Postville. He was 85.

He graduated from Postville High School in 1926. On May 12, 1928 he married Agnes Regina Olson at Charles City, Iowa. They had six children

Prior to Kenneth's retirement in 1974, he was the owner of the Ellis Blacksmith Shop, one of the oldest businesses in Postville. In 1893, Kenneth's father began as an apprentice in the blacksmithing trade for Thomas Shortreed. In 1908, J. P. purchased the business when Mr. Shortreed moved to North Dakota. In 1948 J. P. turned the business over to his sons, Clifford (Kip) and Kenneth. Clifford worked with his father for 22 years in the business while Kenneth worked his father's farm near Marshfield, Wis., for 20 years. The two sons then worked together in the business until Clifford moved to Daenport, Iowa, when Kenneth purchased the business from his father.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Agnes, who died July 6, 1983; a daughter, Jane Amelia Ruckdaschel and a son-in-law, Lyle Ruckdaschel; a grandson, Larry Meyer; four brothers, Lyle Ellis, Clifford (Kip) Ellis, LeRoy (Roy) Ellis and a brother who was still born; and a sister, Ruby Crago.

Surviving are two sons, Kenneth Eugene Ellis and his wife, Karen, of Clermont, Dale Ellis and his wife, Connie of Elgin; three daughters, Doris and her husband, Harold E. Meyer, Donna and her husband, Robert William Harris (Sr.) and Betty and her husband Milo Helgerson, all of Postville; 18 grandchildren; 27 great grandchildren; one brother, Lloyd (Curly) Ellis of Moline, Ill.; two sisters, Naomi Hull of Diamond City, Ark. and Iva Bruckner of Ft. Myers, Fla., and numerous nieces and nephews.

Kenneth was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville. He was a past member of the IOOF of Postville.

Services for Kenneth Ellis were held Tuesday, July 27, 1993 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville.

Casket bearers were grandsons: Terry Meyer, Robert William Harris, Jr., Danny Ellis, Bruce Helgerson, Rick Ruckdaschel, Bradley Harris, Greg Helgerson, Matthew Ellis and Michael Ellis.

Honorary casket bearers were granddaughters: Linda Muchow, Paulette Schultz, Beverly Gageman, Tracey Kjiri, Tonya Valley, Heidi Henriksen, Laurie Grady, Kelli Ellis and Nicole Steffans.

Postville Herald newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection.