J. Eugene Ellis

J. Eugene Ellis, age 94, formerly of Litchfield, MN, died on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at the Foley Nursing Home in Foley, MN. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, December 17, 2011, at the United Methodist Church, Litchfield, MN, with Pastor Bill Kerr officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM at The Litchfield United Methodist Church and will continue one hour prior to the service. Interment will be held in Lake Ripley Cemetery, Litchfield, MN. J. Eugene Ellis was born February 6, 1917 in Dallas County Iowa. He died December 14, 2011. He graduated from Redfield High School in Iowa. He then graduated from Iowa State College in Animal Husbandry and later earned a Masters Degree in Soil Science from the University of Minnesota. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. On January 10, 1943, he married Mary Esther Baldridge in Des Moines, Iowa. Following World War II he became County Extension Director for Sioux County Iowa. Later he became a soils Extension agent with the University of Minnesota in Wright County and the family lived in Buffalo. He then moved to Litchfield and worked as an area soils specialist for 6 counties. After retiring in 1982, the University Board of Regents awarded him the honorary academic title of Professor Emeritus. Jay was involved in many different organizations through the years, including Masons, Eastern Star, the Reformed Church, the Buffalo and Litchfield United Methodist Church, the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, Courage Center and Camp Courage. Genealogy had been his primary hobby for many years and he finished compiling his Ellis genealogy in August 1998. He had a woodworking shop, where he made many items for his family. He is survived by his daughters: Virginia (Daryl) Jensen of Fairmont, MN; Jean (John) Tulkki of Cold Spring, MN; Barbara (Kevin) Dunn of New Ulm, MN; and Karen ( Dan) Martens of Foley, MN; 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Joyce Ellis of Merrill, Wisconsin; an only cousin, Elizabeth Kiehm of California; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Mary Esther (February 7, 2011), parents Eugene and Myrtle Ellis, and his brother Lawrence Ellis.Previous Events Visitation Friday, December 16, 2011 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM United Methodist Church 1000 South Sibley Litchfield, MN 55355 Visitation Saturday, December 17, 2011 10:30 AM United Methodist Church 1000 South Sibley Litchfield, MN 55355