Ellis, Dennis Lee 1951-2026

ELLIS, MALCOLM, WILD

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/15/2026 at 15:01:13

Mr. Dennis Ellis, age 74, of Alton, passed away on Friday, June 12, 2026, at the Pleasant Acres Care Center in Hull.

The family will be hosting a memorial service on Wednesday, June 17, at 11:00am, at the Faith Church in Rock Valley with Mr. Merlyn Sandbulte officiating. Lunch and a time of visitation with the family will take place at the church following the service. The Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City is assisting the family.

Dennis Lee was born on December 23, 1951, in Wakefield, Nebraska, the son of Jack and Lorraine (Malcolm) Ellis. He was raised in the Homer area and graduated from Homer High School. That following summer, his family moved to Sioux Center, and then he moved to Denver, Colorado to lay carpet for his grandfather.

On May 24, 1974, he was united in marriage to Jane Russell Wild in Aurora, Colorado. They made their home in Carmel, Maurice, and Carnes before eventually settling in Alton in 1991. Denny worked in construction for many years and was a hard worker. He worked with cement as well as laying carpet and many other handy-man jobs. He had a love for taking care of people, which led him to get a bachelor’s degree in nursing home management from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake.

In earlier years, Dennis and Jane attended the Dover Avenue Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Orange City, and more recently attended the Tabernacle Baptist Church in George. Jane passed away on July 21, 2021, in Alton, after more than 47 years of marriage.

Dennis was an avid hunter and enjoyed watching old western movies. He had a deep love for children and enjoyed going to his grandchildren’s events, encouraging them and coaching them along the way. He also never said no to a good game of Pinochle, even if it meant being late for something else.

Survivors include his four sons, James Ellis, of Rock Valley; Shane Ellis, and his wife, Ashley, of Olive Branch, Mississippi; Russell Ellis, and his wife, Nichole, of Wassaic, New York; and Luke Ellis, and his wife, Dádia, of Waiane, Hawaii; eleven grandchildren, Summer (Jon Mixon), Aidan, Andrés, Soledad, Nikola, Kyle, Adrian, Lydia, Paisley, Oakley, and Johnny Jett; three great-grandchildren, Crew, Journey, and Kayne; his mother, Lorraine Ellis, of Sioux Center; and his siblings, Doug Ellis, and his wife, Joanne, of Wausau, Wisconsin; Dan Ellis, and his wife, Jean; and Dexter Ellis, all of Sioux Center; Donna, and her husband, Merlyn Sandbulte, of Rock Valley; and Debbie, and her husband, Mark Hooyer, of Sioux Center.

In addition to his father and wife, he was preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Eve Ellis.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.