Obituary of Arlene D. Ellis

Arlene Doris (Garlick) Ellis, passed away on February 8, 2021, at Crestview Nursing Home in West Branch, Iowa. Arlene was born on April 10, 1923, on a farm in Winnebago, Minnesota, to Gertrude Hannah (Griffith) and Roscoe E. Garlick. The family later moved to a farm in rural Martin County near Fairmont, Minnesota. She started school in a one room school house and graduated from Fairmont High School in 1941. She moved to Iowa City in 1942 and went to work at Kaderas Café where she met her future husband William George Ellis. She worked at Hamburg Inn Number 2 for 23 years before opening the Greek American restaurant Town Crest Inn in 1975 with her husband George and their daughter Nancy and her husband Bill Marakos. After retiring in 1982, she and George traveled in their 5th wheel to California, Nashville and Florida. She loved history especially English history and had an opportunity to travel to England. She was a voracious reader, reading every genre of book. She loved country, classical and gospel music and crossword puzzles. The most important thing in her life was her family with frequent gatherings and plenty of food. She was preceded in death by her husband George after 59 years of marriage and brothers, Harold Griffith, George Garlick and Oliver Garlick. She is survived by a sister, Dorothy Saxton; sons, Richard (Connie) Ellis, Gary (Pat) Ellis, David Ellis and Carlos Bordignon and Mark Ellis; daughters, Judy (Ed) Shimkat, Nancy (Bill) Marakos and Sandra (Daryle) Langenberg; 16 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-grandchildren with two more on the way and many nieces, nephews and their families. She will be missed by all of us but leaves so many wonderful memories. Private family services will be held at 2pm, Monday, February 15, 2021, at Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service, but can also be viewed by family and friends through the livestreaming feature on the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com at Arlene’s page under obituary. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in Arlene’s Memory to Crestview Nursing & Rehab Center. To share a thought, memory or condolence with her family please visit the funeral home website.