C.A. "Mike" Ellwanger - 1925 - 2010

ELLWANGER GRIMME

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 11/3/2010 at 15:47:16

Sioux City Journal
23 July 2010

SIOUX CITY -- C.A. "Mike" Ellwanger, 85, of Sioux City passed away Wednesday, July 21, 2010, surrounded by his loving family.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the Church of the Nativity, with the Rev. Gerald Feierfeil officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at the church. Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel is handling the arrangements.

C.A. "Mike" Ellwanger was born June 26, 1925, in Fon du Lac, Wis., where his father was employed as a boiler maker for the Great Northern Railroad and his mother took care of the household. As a young boy, Mike and his family moved to Clinton, Iowa, where he graduated from Saint Mary's High School in 1943. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. Mike served in the South Pacific on a patrol craft, also referred to as a "submarine chaser", where he was a signalman and achieved the rank of petty officer second class.

After being honorably discharged in 1946, he enrolled at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. In Dubuque, Mike met his wife, Alyce Ann Grimme, and they were married on Aug. 28, 1948, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Dubuque.

Upon completing his education at Loras College, Mike enrolled in law school at the University of Minnesota. After one year, he transferred to the Iowa College of Law, graduating in 1952. He then began his working career at Iowa Public Service Company in Sioux City.

Mike worked for Iowa Public Service Company from 1952 until he retired in 1988. Beginning in the legal department, Mike held various positions throughout the company attaining the position of senior vice president at the time of his retirement.

Throughout his life, Mike was very devoted to the Catholic faith and was a parishioner at the following Sioux City parishes: Immaculate Conception, St. Francis, and Nativity Catholic Church, where he served on various boards and committees. All five of Mike and Alyce's children attended parochial schools in Sioux City.

Mike's hobbies included hunting, fishing, gardening and building various projects in his workshop. He was also an avid bridge player, belonging to several bridge groups. In his earlier years, he also enjoyed working out at the old YMCA.

Mike and Alyce have five children, Michael and his wife, Carolyn of Sioux City, Stephanie and her husband, Jim Jeschke of Sioux City, Tim of Sioux City, Melinda and her husband, Dan DeMarest of McCook Lake, S.D., and Julia and her husband, Todd Von Ehwegen of Forest City, Iowa. He also has 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Mike was also active and involved in the community, serving as president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Sioux City Downtown Rotary Club. He also served on boards of both Sioux City hospitals. He was a volunteer member of ESGR, developing and promoting employer support for Guard and Reserve service. During his retirement, Mike and Alyce were volunteers for various organizations including Queen of Peace and Hospice of Siouxland for 12 years.

Mike's first priority throughout his life was Alyce, his wife of 62 years.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Junior; and his daughter-in-law, Nan Guggenmos Ellwanger.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons Joshua and Nicholas Ellwanger, Dustin and Aaron DeMarest, and Tyler and Austin Von Ehwegen.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Siouxland.