Joanne M. Ellis

Joanne was born December 27, 1947, in Duluth, to Adam and Mary Timo (who later divorced). Mary Timo married John Benson in December of 1950 and Joanne was adopted by her new dad Benson.

Joanne graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1965 and then attended UMD. On March 10, 1967, Joanne married the love of her life, Dale Ellis. Joanne worked assorted part-time jobs while their three children were young, and then started working at UMD in 1982. She worked in three different departments while at UMD and she retired as a clerical from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in 2010.

Joanne found her greatest joy in her family, friends, and church family. She enjoyed reading and her computer. Gardening was a life-long hobby, and she enjoyed many hours outside planting, weeding, and mowing. Summer was her favorite season of the year.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale Ellis; her parents, John and Mary Benson; brother, John Benson; and many other family and friends.

Joanne is survived by sons, Daniel (Tiffany) Ellis and Jeffrey Ellis; daughter, Katherine (Keith) Tomaier; grandson, Benjamin Ellis; granddaughters, Katerina Ellis and Elise Ellis; sisters, Lori (Richard) Gitar and Lyla Rose; nephew, Cory Gitar; and niece, Cheryl Gitar; numerous dear family and friends; special daughter, Naomi Ellis; and her little dog, Molly.

Visitation: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, January 23 at Bell Brothers Funeral Home in Duluth.

Funeral Service: 11 a.m. Saturday, January 24 at Duluth Gospel Tabernacle (with visitation 1 hour prior), Duluth. Interment will be at Sunrise Memorial Park.