Donald E. Ellis, Sr., 76, of Conneaut Lake, passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at Rolling Fields Eldercare Community.
He was born December 24, 1940 in Meadville, a son of Elmer D. and Mabel McClelland Ellis and raised by his father and stepmother, Ida Jean Thompson Ellis. He married Lesa Penniman December 1, 1973 and she survives.
Don was a 1958 graduate of Conneaut Lake High School where he was very involved with FFA. Following graduation, he went into dairy farming where he showed dairy cattle and was a herdsman. He worked as a fabricator at Burkhardt Sheet Metal for 20 years. He previously worked as a welder at Greenville Steel Car for 8 years and in retirement worked at Excalibur Machine Company for 1 year.
A member of High Street Community Church, Don was a life-member of Conneaut Lake Park VFD Station 5 where he served as the fire chief for 14 years. He was a former Sadsbury Township supervisor, first responder and driver for the Conneaut Lake Area Ambulance Service for over 20 years and former board member, former member of the Crawford County Fireman’s Assoc., and was active with 4-H. For many years Don was co-chairman of the horse department at the Crawford County Fair, president of the Conneaut Lake Wrestling Club, and ran the boarding stable for Nancy Coleman. He was an avid hunter, enjoyed working with animals and loved spending time with his family and grandchildren.
Survivors, in addition to his loving wife Lesa of 43 years, include two sons, Donald E. Ellis, Jr. and his wife Judy of Conneaut Lake and Peter C. Ellis and his wife Kim of Indianapolis, IN; a daughter, Darci E. Ellis Hatley of Spring Creek, PA; five grandchildren, Ashley Lee Ellis and her fiancé Dustin Peterson, Taylor Don Ellis and his girlfriend Kelsey Miller, Stacie Nichole Peterson and her husband Tyler, Brenton James Ellis and his girlfriend Abigail Kuhn, and Christopher David Ellis Hatley; three great-grandchildren, Lilyann Grace Ellis, Isaac Dayton Ellis, and Connor Edward Peterson; three sisters, Carol A. Williams of Atlantic, Rhonda J. Klink and her husband Tom of Westford, and Amy M. Barber and her husband Tim of Jamestown; a brother, Darrell C. Ellis and his wife Linda of Wakefield, NH; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and stepmother, he was preceded in death by a son, Christopher D. Ellis and a brother-in-law, Michael Williams.
Calling hours are Friday, April 28th from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at WAID-COLEMAN FUNERAL HOME, 12422 CONNEAUT LAKE RD., CONNEAUT LAKE.
The funeral service will be Saturday, April 29th at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 240 N. Third St., Conneaut Lake with the Rev. Ryan Austie, Pastor of High Street Community Church, officiating.
Interment will be in Roselawn Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Conneaut Lake Area Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 546, Conneaut Lake, PA 16316, Conneaut Lake Wrestling Club, P.O. Box 535, Conneaut Lake, PA 16316, Miracle Mountain Ranch (for the camp scholarship fund), 101 Rodeo Dr., Spring Creek, PA 16436, or Rolling Fields, 9108 State Hwy 198, Conneautville, PA 16406.
Memories and condolences may be shared at www.waidcolemanfh.com.
Conneaut Lake Area Ambulance Service
P.O. Box 546, Conneaut Lake PA 16316
Conneaut Lake Wrestling Club
P.O. Box 535, Conneaut Lake PA 16316
Miracle Mountain Ranch
101 Rodeo Dr., Spring Creek PA 16436
Rolling Fields
9108 State Hwy 198, Conneautville PA 16406
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors