Joe Ellis

Joe Ellis, age 82, of Leonardville, Kansas and formerly of Manhattan, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at Leonardville Nursing Home. He was born on June 22, 1932 in Seligman, Missouri to Jeff and Mary Ellen Ellis. On May 7, 1950 he married his high school sweetheart, Ina Marie. She survives of the home. Joe worked for Federal Crop Insurance for 29 years retiring in 1991. His position as a regional sales manager brought him to Manhattan, Ks where he lived for over 30 years. In 1978 he bought the Little Ponderosa Mobile Home park which he managed along with Ina until October of 2006. Joe was a longtime active member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Manhattan and a much loved Sunday School teacher for many years. He was a member of Gideon's International where he counted it a privilege to lead Bible study weekly with their Riley County Jail ministry. He was a life long gardener, walker, and fisherman. He loved God's Word and memorized many passages of scripture over the years. He loved tinkering with cars, and could fix just about anything. He had a great sense of humor and loved sharing jokes with his family and friends. In addition to his wife, he is survived by 5 sons, Bob Ellis (Janie) of Ardmore, OK, Lynn Ellis (Mary Lou) of Riley, KS, Darreld Ellis (Marilyn) of Topeka, KS, Terry Ellis (Polly) of Overland Park, KS and Rick Ellis (Shelle) of Shawnee, KS; 1 daughter Sherry Duerfeldt (Dan) of Manhattan, KS; 12 grandchildren, Chad Ellis, Brian Ellis, Josh Duerfeldt, Jessica Ellis Vidal, Nicole Ellis Semple, Dayna Ellis Robson, Matt Duerfeldt, Pam Ellis, Luke Duerfeldt, Andrew Ellis, Jacob Duerfeldt and Michael Ellis; 3 step-grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Joe loved God and passed his faith on to his family and so many others. His joy in life was his wife, his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was deeply loved and will be missed but remembered with joy. He was preceded in death by his parents, 6 brothers and 1 sister. The family wishes to thank the Leonardville Nursing Home for 3 1/2 years of loving, devoted care. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 20, 2015 at the First Church of the Nazarene in Manhattan with Rev. Steve Myers and Rev. Ben Duerfeldt officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Friday morning at the church. Burial will be in the Sedalia Cemetery, northwest of Manhattan. Memorials have been established for Gideon’s International and First Church of the Nazarene. Contributions may be left in care of the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home in Riley, Kansas.