Ellinger, Russell E. 1920-2003

ELLINGER, MATHEWS, MARSH, STOUT, RICH, FARRIS, FULTON, SEBOK, GINGERICH

Posted By: Debbie Nash (email)
Date: 12/30/2003 at 17:21:30

Russell E. Ellinger
December 29, 2003

Russell E. Ellinger, 83, of Kalona, died Friday, Dec. 26, 2003, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

A memorial celebration will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Shiloh Church, 100 Shiloh Drive in Kalona, with Chuck Rogness, Ed Forbes and Don Gaudreau officiating. The body has been cremated. Burial of cremains will be at a later date.

Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. today at Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona.

A general memorial fund has been established.

Mr. Ellinger was born March 24, 1920, in Spencerville, Ohio, the son of Clarence and Beatrice Mathews Ellinger. He married Wilma Marsh in 1942. She died in 1981. He married Jeane Stout Rich Jan. 31, 1982.

Mr. Ellinger graduated from Manson High School, attended William Penn College in Oskaloosa and earned a music degree at Parsons College in Fairfield.

He was minister at Olds Congregational Church for 18 years. He also ministered at Clay and Antioch churches in Eldon, Atkinson, Ill., and did missionary work in Jamaica and Canada. He was an engineer for the state police in Fairfield and for KCII radio in Washington. He later worked for Everetts Music Co. in Washington and Bendix Oceanic in North Hollywood, Calif.

He attended Shiloh Church in Kalona.

Survivors include his wife; one son, John Ellinger and wife Nancy of DeWitt; one daughter, Virginia Farris and husband Mike of Dallas City, Ill.; one brother, Herb Ellinger and wife Lena of Kalamazoo, Mich.; one sister, Carol Fulton of Glen Haven, Colo.; four stepsons, Kenneth Rich and wife Claire of North Hollywood, Wesley Rich and wife Riella of Kalona, Steve Rich and wife Jerilyn of Kalona, and Phil Rich and Jacque of Crawfordsville; one stepdaughter Marti Sebok and husband Bill of Kalona; 22 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by one infant sister; and one stepdaughter, Jane Gingerich.

Courtesy of the Fairfield Daily Ledger Inc. 2003