Louise Ellingson
Louise E. Ellingson, 79, of Waukon passed away peacefully at 8:45 a.m. Monday, April 13, 2026, at Thornton Manor in Lansing, surrounded by her loving family. Visitation and funeral services will be held Friday, July 3, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Pastor Mark Oehlert officiating.
Visitation will be from 12-2 p.m., with funeral services following at 2 p.m. After the service, burial of her ashes will be held at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon, with a lunch to follow in the fellowship hall at St. John’s. Urn bearers will be her two grandsons, EJ Runice and Zachary Smith. Cremation services were provided by Iowa Cremation of Cedar Rapids.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Veterans Memorial Hospital Foundation of Waukon, Growing Hope Globally (Corner of Hope) Growing Project, or Oakland Cemetery of Waukon.
Louise Elizabeth (Hoyme) Ellingson was born December 22, 1946, in Decorah, the daughter of Norman and Kathryn (Clement) Hoyme. She was baptized and confirmed at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Decorah.
Louise attended a one-room country school through the fifth grade, after which, the family moved into the town of Decorah. She was a member of the first class to graduate from Thomas Roberts High School in Decorah in 1965.
While in high school, she became employed with Northwestern Bell Telephone Company as a switchboard operator. She was the only operator on duty the night the original Waukon Senior High School burned down in 1965.
Louise met the love of her life, Gordon William Ellingson, at Matters Ballroom in rural Decorah. They were married in the evening September 23, 1967, at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. She joined St. John’s in 1968, where she was very active in Circle, Ladies Aid, teaching Sunday School, and involved with youth activities. She was also honored to be a baptismal sponsor to Dr. Adam Wacker and Michelle (Yohe) Byrnes, children of lifetime friends of the family.
Louise was the heart and home of the family. She dedicated her life to raising her four children. She’s remembered for showing up at every game, every concert, every church event, every moment that mattered. She was even willing to give the Burning of the W speech for her oldest son’s football team in the fall of 1986, despite her anxiety talking in front of people.
She was a stay-at-home mom and farm wife who was very active on the farm with most everything that went on, from driving tractor doing field work, to milking cows and helping in the farrowing barn, to butchering chickens and unloading hay bales, just to name a few. She was also very active with her garden, spending many days picking, canning, and freezing various vegetables to provide for her family.
If there was a gathering of any kind, Louise was known for bringing her famous cherry dessert, during deer hunting season, egg salad sandwiches, and at Christmas time she would stay up late making Lefse for her family to enjoy.
Those who knew Louise would know that she was very proud of her Norwegian heritage. She would love to tell anyone and everyone how proud she was of her four kids and that they were two hundred percent Norwegian.
Surviving family include her loving husband of 58 years, Gordon Ellingson of Waukon; their four children: Russell (Annette) Ellingson of Ackley, Dr. Todd (Rachel) Ellingson of Merrillville, IN, Cheryl (Dave) Fetketter of Dorchester, and Laura Connor of Peoria, IL; five grandchildren: Brittney (Brady) Blom of Newton, EJ (Shelby) Runice of Nashua, Kimberly (Owen) Abkes of Ackley, Liza (Adam) Nichols of Manhattan, IL, and Zachary Smith of Peoria, IL; nine great-grandchildren: Evalinne, Elouise and Everett Blom, Jovi, Blegen and Howie Abkes, Macey and Kinsley Runice, and Adaline Nichols; one brother-in-law, Hubert (Martha) Ellingson of Cedar Rapids; and one sister-in-law, Martha Hoyme of Flower Mound, TX. Also surviving are several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Louise was preceded in death by her parents, Norman and Kathryn Hoyme; her two brothers, Charles and Nordean Hoyme; and her mother- and father-in-law, Arnold and Viola Ellingson.
Her kindness and unconditional love will live on in us every day, forever connected by beautiful memories. Thank you for the life and lessons you gave. You will always hold the most special place in our hearts.
