Dale E. Ellis

Dale passed away peacefully under hospice care on Friday, August 26, 2011, in Fresno, Ca. Dale Eugene Ellis was born at home in Meadow Grove, Ne. to Ernest F. and Thelma (Carroll) Ellis, on February 17, 1932. He received his Elementary and High School education at the Meadow Grove Public Schools for 11 years, completing his 12th year in Haviland, Kansas and started college in Sterling, Kansas. Enlisting in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War,taking his training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, and he finished his training as a hospital corpsman with top honors. He was honorably discharged from Paris Island SC in 1953. Dale attended Junior College in Nebraska, a short time before enrolling at the University of Minnesota College of Mortuary Science, in which he graduated again with top honors as a Mortician and Funeral Director. Dale held a certification with the Minnesota Board of Health for Over 50 years. Dale was a former president of the Minnesota State Jaycees. He relocated to Fresno, California in 1975 and became a sales representative for Steiger Tractor company, for the West Coast, where he was top sales representative for several years. He married Jamie "Pips" Pipes on March 15, 1980, and they made their home in Fresno, California. They enjoyed travel and cruises around the world. Dale loved his dogs and currently best friend, Maile. Dale was an avid golfer, wherever he traveled he had his clubs with him, "oh my, what a problem." He enjoyed his hunting and fishing trips throughout the Midwest and West Coast. He was the master chef for the family get-togethers. Just mention Fresno City College Rams football program, San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants, or Fresno State Bulldogs and you could see how much he loved sports. He worked as a Territory Sales Manager for Grumman/Olson Truck Bodies and Supreme Truck bodies until his health failed. He loved sales and was most content when running wide open and never looking back. Dale was preceded in death by his parents; and grandparents. He will be greatly missed by friends and family. He is survived by his wife, Jamie "Pips" of Fresno, California; siblings, Howard Ellis and his wife Sue of Bakersfield, Ca., Charlette Wyatt and her husband Dick of Erie, Co., Phyllis Johansen and her husband Darrell of Overland Park, Ks., Doug Ellis and his wife Beth of Meadow Grove, Ne.; and numerous nieces and nephews that he enjoyed. Visitation will be at New Hope Community Church, 4620 East Nees Ave., Clovis, Ca. on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with funeral service to follow. Interment will be a private family service at the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Nancy Hinds Hospice, 1616 W. Shaw, Fresno, Ca. 93711; Veterans Medical Center, 2615 E. Clinton, Fresno, Ca. 93703; SPCA, 103 S. Hughes, Fresno, Ca, 93706; or charity of choice.