Cover photo for Ellis Swartzendruber's Obituary
Ellis Swartzendruber Profile Photo
1922 Ellis 2016

Ellis Swartzendruber

March 15, 1922 — May 28, 2016

A memorial service for Ellis M. Swartzendruber 94, of Kalona will be held Monday, May 30, 2016, at 11:00 am at the Sunnyside Conservative Mennonite Church in Kalona.  Burial will be held prior to the service at 9:15 am at the Fairview Cemetery.  Visitation will be held Sunday, May 29 at the Sunnyside Church from 2 – 6 pm. A memorial fund has been established for the Sunnyside Church and Pleasantview Home.  Ellis Maynard Swartzendruber died on May 28, 2016, in Kalona, Iowa.

He was born on March 15, 1922, Wellman, Iowa, to Elmer G. and Mary (Bender) Swartzendruber.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Ila (Miller) Swartzendruber. They were married on December 25, 1945, and were the parents of three sons: Loren (Pat Swartzendruber), Harrisonburg VA, Darwin (Tina Cambridge), Kalona, and Larry (Connie Miller), Kalona. Ellis is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Tim (Nicolle Nogueras), Silver Spring MD; Beth Goertzen (Michael), Harrisonburg VA; Steven (Katie Grove), Bridgewater VA; Angela Hackman (Joe), Harleysville PA; Aaron (Amanda Throckmorton), Des Moines IA; Hannah Meyers (Jeremy), Kalona; Kayla (Colin) Tadlock, Altoona IA; Nathan (Grace Eidmann), Iowa City; Michael (Laurel Mast), Wayland IA; Sam, Harrisonburg VA. The couple has eight great grandchildren.

Ellis was predeceased by his parents, three sisters: Mildred Graber, Effie Miller, Mary Elva Ropp, and one brother Morris. Surviving siblings are Edith Nisly and Ethel Miller of Kalona.

Ellis attended Hickory Grove school near the family farm north of Wellman through grade 8. He served as a conscientious objector in Civilian Public Service in Terry MT, and Fort Collins CO before joining Washington County Farm Store as a partner with his father-in-law Ben M. Miller, brother-in-law Cecil Miller, and brother Morris. After retiring from the farm implement business in 1984 Ellis held several part-time jobs in the Kalona area and volunteered at Pleasantview Home, Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale, and served as church treasurer, Sunday School and Bible School teacher, trustee, and service committee at Sunnyside Conservative Church. He served on the boards of Iowa Mennonite School and the Pleasantview Home where he was a resident at the time of his death.

He was baptized into the Christian faith on November 27, 1937, at Fairview Conservative Mennonite Church and was a charter member of Sunnyside Conservative Mennonite in 1955. For many years Ellis was a member of the Men’s Chorus of the area Conservative Mennonite churches.
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