Walter James Ellis

Walter James Ellis, age 87, passed away on November 6th, 2025.

Walter was born in Chicago on September 7th, 1938, and lived in Wood Dale Illinois with his parents and three sisters until high school age when the family moved to Arlington Heights Illinois. Walter joined the Navy at age 18 in September 1955. He sailed the world on a destroyer where he ran the ships store. He was honorably discharge at the end of his enlistment in August 1959. He hurriedly married his high school sweetheart Barbara Strandel in March 1960. They raised their children in Schaumburg, Illinois, where Walter ran his industrial sewing business, Ellis Manufacturing Company, before selling his home and business and moving to the family summer cabin in Marcell Minnesota in 1979. After a few wonderful years in the woods Walter came out of pre-retirement when he and Barbara and daughter Sonya moved away on a Rocky Mountain adventure. Walter was recruited and took a job running a sewing company in Missoula Montana for a few years before moving back to Wadena MN and taking a job at Homecrest Industries. During their time living and working in Wadena he and Barbara tore down the old cabin in Marcell. They built a new home and moved back there again to retire in 2005.

After Barbara’s death in 2008 Walter wintered a few years in Arizona where he visited his sisters and enjoyed golf. In his later years he enjoyed just being at his home in the woods where his sons have built homes of their own on the same lake establishing a small family compound. He also very much enjoyed being visited by old friends and family from Chicagoland and beyond. He delighted in affording guests an opportunity to enjoy the north woods (mostly in the summer).

Walter is and will be sorely missed and remembered fondly by all who knew him.

Walter is survived by: Sister Betty Helsper, Sons Michael and John Ellis, daughters-in-law Brigit and Nikki Ellis, Grandchildren Samantha Ellis, Karly Payne, Tiffany Moskal, Axel Ellis, Anna Hennagir, and Benjamin Hennagir.

Great grandchildren, Peyton, Parker and Tatum Moskal.

Walter is proceeded in death by: Parents, Walter and Maybelle Ellis, sisters Jean Helsper & Ruth Ellis. Wife Barbara Ellis and daughter Sonya Hennagir.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

The family requests that no flowers be ordered or sent to them at this time.

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