Lorraine R. Ellis, 82, City Point, passed away on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at Marshfield Medical Center.
Lorraine was born on July 15, 1942 in Townsville, Australia to Adolph and Muriel (Stein) Bourfka. Lorraine and her mom came to the United States when she was 4. Her mom was a war bride. She lived and went to school in Black River Falls and after graduation went to the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. She worked a short time at Trane in La Crosse. She met Eugene Ellis while roller skating and in 1963 they were united in marriage and moved to Wausau where she was secretary to the CEO of Wausau Transit. In 1965, Lorraine and Eugene moved to Milwaukee and she worked at Dean Whitter part of the stock exchange. In 1970, she had a son, Shawn, and he was her life. She stopped working after he was born but still volunteered for whatever was needed at her church. She loved God and the church. In 1984, Lorraine and Eugene, along with extended family, purchased a cranberry marsh and moved to City Point where she helped on the marsh and took care of their son who passed away in 1999 from cancer. A part of her heart went with him.
She was a member of the City Point Community Church which she loved. In the past few years she has had a number of serious health issues which got the best of her this year, but she still helped with marsh issues as much as she could. She loved to read and could spend endless time at book stores. At home she enjoyed video games and many times had to be pulled away from her computer.
Shawn, Gene, and Lorraine enjoyed fishing and bingo and would spend as much time as they could doing things like this. She loved to visit with people and enjoyed participating in the East Fork Homemakers.
Wherever she went she had friends who somehow she remained in contact with. She was a great cook and loved ice cream malts. She was so kind to all and we will all miss her. A part of our hearts passed with her. She loved to travel and we took some wonderful vacations.
Lorraine is survived by her husband, Eugene; brother, Allen Evans, sister, Laurie Madshaw, sister in law, Linda (Kenneth) Dallman, brother in law, David Ellis, and sister in law, Barbara Jacobson. She was extremely close to them.
She is further survived by her niece, Toni (Robert, Jr.) Scheel and her children: Arie (Tanner) Haffenbredl, Addison Peplinski, Riley Ellis Scheel, and Renea Ellis Scheel; niece, Tina (Scott) Ellis Coyle, and her children: Christian (Rob) Stranz, Connor (Aaron) Vobora, and Cierra Coyle; niece, Nicole (Paul) Kaetterhenry and her children, Ethan Hanutke and Tyler Hanutke, and niece, Alicia (Ryan) Forrer.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Adolph “Frank” and Muriel, son, Shawn Ellis, brother, Robert Bourfka, father in law, Frank Ellis, mother in law, Regina Ellis, and sister in law, Sandra Ellis.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Crystal Volk and Lisa Blackdeer for their friendship and loving care.
A memorial will be established at a later date.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 pm on Sunday, June 1, 2025 at City Point Community Church, with visitation from 11:30 am until the time of service. Pastor Fred Parker, Jr. will officiate. Burial will follow at the City Point Community Cemetery and serving as pallbearers will be Robert Scheel, Riley Ellis-Scheel, Tanner Haffenbredl, Tyler Hanutke, Ethan Hanutke, and James Kurtz.
She will be missed so much by all those that loved her with all their hearts and souls. Good bye my love.
Condolences may be sent online at www.rembsfh.com
Author: News Desk
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