John Gordon Ellis 1926 - 2018

ELLIS, BRATBY, MORGAN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/16/2018 at 13:56:40

Sioux City Journal
29 January 2018

Phoenix, Ariz., formerly Sioux City

John Gordon Ellis, 91, of Phoenix, formerly of Sioux City, passed on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, of complications from the flu.

Gordon was born July 12, 1926, in Sioux City, to Clement H. and May Bratby. He was known to the community as Gordon and "Gordie" to his family and closest friends. Gordon attended Blessed Sacrament Grade School, North Junior, and Central High, graduating in June 1944.

He served in the U.S. Army during the occupation in Salzburg, Austria, for 21 months and was discharged as sergeant. After that, he attended the University of South Dakota from 1946 to 1950. He was a member of the college golf team and majored in business administration.

Gordon married Beverly J. Morgan on Dec. 30, 1950. He worked for Cudahy Packing Company for four years prior to joining Bob Gessell Realty Co. He was in the real estate business for 18 years. In 1972, Gordon became co-owner of the business and changed the name to First Realty. He remained in the business until approximately 2001. Gordon was highly regarded in Sioux City as a very honest real estate broker.

Gordon enjoyed all sports but was a particularly avid golfer, taking up the sport as a child. He played most of his golf at the Sioux City Boat Club. He later joined Dakota Dunes Country Club and enjoyed playing there for a number of years. During his golfing career, he was Boat Club champion four times, city golf champion three times, and interstate champion once. He continued to enjoy playing at senior golf events. He was blessed to play golf even up to age 90. He even continued to keep up with his love of golf by creating his own putting green in the hallway of his assisted living facility.

After the death of his wife, Beverly, in November 2016, he was moved to the Phoenix area to spend time with his daughter and granddaughter and enjoy lots of family visits and endless desserts.

Gordon and Beverly were blessed with one daughter, Julie A. Ellis Kurtz of Phoenix, Ariz.; and two grandchildren, Kristen of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Bradley of Utah. He was a very giving and loving father and grandfather.

Other survivors are his niece, Mary McIntosh and her husband, Clare of Des Moines; and a nephew, Steve and his wife, Daisy of Springville, Calif. Both niece and nephew adored Uncle Gord and he thought the world of them. Stacey Pecaut Gerhart, a former neighbor, and great friend, spent countless hours visiting him in Iowa from 2014 to 2017 and was instrumental in packing and moving him to Phoenix. We will never forget her constant devotion of time and love with Gordie.