Lois Ellison

Lois Ellison age 93 of Clarinda, IA, formerly of Fredericksburg, died Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Red Oak, IA. Public graveside services will be held 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 20, 2021, at Rose Hill Cemetery in Fredericksburg. Friends may greet the family 3:00 - 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 20, 2021, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in Fredericksburg. Lois was born October 19, 1927, in Fredericksburg, Iowa, the daughter of Edward and Alvena (Drape) Mattke. She was baptized and later confirmed at Evangelical Church in Fredericksburg. She attended country school through the 8th grade, and graduated from Fredericksburg High School in 1945. She attended Allen School of Nursing in Waterloo, Iowa, and was a member of the US Army Nursing Corp of Cadets until her graduation as a registered nurse in 1948. She worked in hospitals in Sumner and New Hampton, the nursing home in Fredericksburg, and retired in 1990 after 21 years with Gunderson Clinic in West Union. Lois married Stanley Eugene Ellison at Evangelical Church, Fredericksburg, on May 29, 1948. They were happily married for 65 years until he passed away on April 17, 2012. They were blessed with five children: Thomas (Myrna) Ellison of San Antonio, Texas; Edward; Rodney (Beverly) of Omro, Wisconsin; Sue (Tom) Milius of Denver, Iowa; and Kristin (Mike) Smith of Clarinda, Iowa. Lois and Stanley spent many years on the farm east of Fredericksburg. They moved into Fredericksburg in 1996 and then moved to Clarinda, Iowa, in 2007. Lois was an active member of Peace UCC in Fredericksburg, and Trinity Presbyterian Church in Clarinda. Lois and Stanley wintered in Port Aransas, Texas, for many years. She enjoyed music very much, participating in choir and accompanying Stanley on the piano. Lois enjoyed fishing, cooking, sewing, playing cards, gardening, and of course, the San Antonio Spurs. One of her highlights was singing the national anthem in a choir at a Spurs game with her son, Tom. Her favorite thing was following her grandchildren in all of their hobbies. She did not know a stranger. Lois is survived by 4 of her children, 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 1 great, great granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley; son, Edward, in infancy; her parents; brother and sister-in-law Cleo and Margaret Mattke; sister and brother-in-law Gertrude and Bob Mullen; and many other family and friends.