Obituary for Mark Ray Ellis
Le Mars, Iowa – Mark Ellis, 52, of Le Mars, Iowa passed away Friday, July 15, 2022, at his home. A Celebration of Mark’s Life will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 22, 2022, at Rejoice! Community Church in Le Mars. Deacon Paul Gengler will officiate. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 21, 2022, at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. The family will be present from 5-7 p.m. to greet friends. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the service on Friday.
Mark Ray Ellis was born on December 24, 1969, in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, the son of Michael Ray and Peggy June (Hartmann) Ellis. He attended Le Mars Community Schools, graduating in 1988. Mark attended Westmar University on a football scholarship and the University of South Dakota (USD) where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.
Upon graduation from USD Mark worked at Wells Dairy, Inc. as a Freezer Supervisor. On August 16, 1997, Mark married Tobi Stinton. Mark and Tobi were blessed with 3 beautiful daughters: Kristen Alexandra Ellis, Karissa Lynn Ellis and Karly Rayne Ellis. Mark was self-employed for many years managing properties and dabbling in investments. Mark worked for a short time with Tetra Pak in procurement, at Hy-Vee as the Dairy Manager and Product Manager and at PepsiCo in Sales. Mark earned his teaching certificate and started a career as a substitute teacher. He thoroughly enjoyed teaching and was excited to start a fulltime substitute teaching position at West Middle School in Sioux City, Iowa. He always talked about his students and looked forward to making a difference in their lives.
Mark cherished his three daughters, and they adored his presence in their lives. Everything Mark did revolved around his girls: their school activities, family time, vacations, life advice, spiritual guidance and pure love. Mark was very proud of his daughters and took every opportunity he had to brag on them. Mark also adored his nephews and nieces. He made a point to celebrate their accomplishments and support their lives. He treasured his many friendships with those who truly knew him. Mark had a deep love for Dachshunds. He adored Whisky Ray, Stella Rayne, Malibu Rayne and Tiki Rayne. It was not uncommon to see Mark with all four pups on his lap or accompanying him on one of his daily walks. Mark always had a home improvement job in the works and was looking forward to the future to explore wood working. He enjoyed weightlifting and improving upon his strength. He had recently found a new joy in healthily living. He had a passion for sports but was an avid football fan, playing the sport in both high school and college. He was a Nebraska Cornhusker and New England Patriots enthusiast. Mark was very spiritual and had a deep love and respect for God.
Grateful to have shared his life are his daughters: Kristen Alexandra Ellis, Karissa Lynn Ellis and Karly Rayne Ellis of Hinton, IA, his parents, Michael and Peggy (Hartmann) Ellis of Le Mars, IA; a sister, Wendy (Bruce) Tabbert of Le Mars, IA, a brother, Matthew Ellis of Cedar Rapids, IA; aunts and uncles: Pat (Sid) Little of McKinney, TX, Robert (Martha) Hartmann of Jacksonville, FL, Donna (Bob) Davenport of Walnut Creek, CA, Joanne Hartmann of Tallahassee FL and Michael (Lori) Hartmann of Huntsville, AL; nephews and nieces: Luke Alan Tabbert of Le Mars, IA, Lauren June Tabbert of Le Mars, IA, William Michael Ray Ellis of Cedar Rapids, IA and Grace Marie Shrader of Cedar Rapids, IA, great nephew Cody Alan Tabbert of Randolph, NE; cousins: Darron (Stacy) Little of Lubbock, TX, Corrine Jacinto of McKinney, TX and Cristelle (Greg) Elias of Garland, TX; Laramie Hartmann of Jacksonville, FL; Rory (Sarah) Hartmann of Spring Hill, TN and Shannon Hartmann of Plano, TX; Christopher Hartmann of Las Vegas, NV and Jason Hartmann of Jacksonville, FL; Curtis Hartmann of Austin, TX and Morgan (Bert) Lund of Saratoga Springs, UT.
Mark was preceded in death by his grandparents, Orie Ray and Elizabeth Josephine (Vogel) Ellis, Ernest Fredrick and Rebecca June (Gilbert) Hartmann and an uncle, Ernest Edward Hartmann.
Mark Ray Ellis was born on December 24, 1969, in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, the son of Michael Ray and Peggy June (Hartmann) Ellis. He attended Le Mars Community Schools, graduating in 1988. Mark attended Westmar University on a football scholarship and the University of South Dakota (USD) where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.
Upon graduation from USD Mark worked at Wells Dairy, Inc. as a Freezer Supervisor. On August 16, 1997, Mark married Tobi Stinton. Mark and Tobi were blessed with 3 beautiful daughters: Kristen Alexandra Ellis, Karissa Lynn Ellis and Karly Rayne Ellis. Mark was self-employed for many years managing properties and dabbling in investments. Mark worked for a short time with Tetra Pak in procurement, at Hy-Vee as the Dairy Manager and Product Manager and at PepsiCo in Sales. Mark earned his teaching certificate and started a career as a substitute teacher. He thoroughly enjoyed teaching and was excited to start a fulltime substitute teaching position at West Middle School in Sioux City, Iowa. He always talked about his students and looked forward to making a difference in their lives.
Mark cherished his three daughters, and they adored his presence in their lives. Everything Mark did revolved around his girls: their school activities, family time, vacations, life advice, spiritual guidance and pure love. Mark was very proud of his daughters and took every opportunity he had to brag on them. Mark also adored his nephews and nieces. He made a point to celebrate their accomplishments and support their lives. He treasured his many friendships with those who truly knew him. Mark had a deep love for Dachshunds. He adored Whisky Ray, Stella Rayne, Malibu Rayne and Tiki Rayne. It was not uncommon to see Mark with all four pups on his lap or accompanying him on one of his daily walks. Mark always had a home improvement job in the works and was looking forward to the future to explore wood working. He enjoyed weightlifting and improving upon his strength. He had recently found a new joy in healthily living. He had a passion for sports but was an avid football fan, playing the sport in both high school and college. He was a Nebraska Cornhusker and New England Patriots enthusiast. Mark was very spiritual and had a deep love and respect for God.
Grateful to have shared his life are his daughters: Kristen Alexandra Ellis, Karissa Lynn Ellis and Karly Rayne Ellis of Hinton, IA, his parents, Michael and Peggy (Hartmann) Ellis of Le Mars, IA; a sister, Wendy (Bruce) Tabbert of Le Mars, IA, a brother, Matthew Ellis of Cedar Rapids, IA; aunts and uncles: Pat (Sid) Little of McKinney, TX, Robert (Martha) Hartmann of Jacksonville, FL, Donna (Bob) Davenport of Walnut Creek, CA, Joanne Hartmann of Tallahassee FL and Michael (Lori) Hartmann of Huntsville, AL; nephews and nieces: Luke Alan Tabbert of Le Mars, IA, Lauren June Tabbert of Le Mars, IA, William Michael Ray Ellis of Cedar Rapids, IA and Grace Marie Shrader of Cedar Rapids, IA, great nephew Cody Alan Tabbert of Randolph, NE; cousins: Darron (Stacy) Little of Lubbock, TX, Corrine Jacinto of McKinney, TX and Cristelle (Greg) Elias of Garland, TX; Laramie Hartmann of Jacksonville, FL; Rory (Sarah) Hartmann of Spring Hill, TN and Shannon Hartmann of Plano, TX; Christopher Hartmann of Las Vegas, NV and Jason Hartmann of Jacksonville, FL; Curtis Hartmann of Austin, TX and Morgan (Bert) Lund of Saratoga Springs, UT.
Mark was preceded in death by his grandparents, Orie Ray and Elizabeth Josephine (Vogel) Ellis, Ernest Fredrick and Rebecca June (Gilbert) Hartmann and an uncle, Ernest Edward Hartmann.