Anita Ellis

Anita Ellis, 80, of Benton Harbor, passed away Thursday, June 23, 2011 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held 11:30 A.M. Monday at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 4071 Naomi Rd., Sodus with Rev. Terry Schneider officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Sodus. Friends may call from 3:00 until 5:00 P.M. Sunday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of SW Michigan. Those wishing to sign Anita's Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Anita was born April 15, 1931 in New Rockford, North Dakota to Otto & Mary (Kublick) Wolske. She graduated from Coloma High School in 1949. On June 21, 1952, she married Jerry Ellis in Benton Harbor. Together they operated Jerry Ellis Farms in Benton Harbor. Anita also was employed at Mercy Hospital, retiring as director of volunteers at Mercy-Memorial Hospital after 20 years of employment. She was a life member of the Lakeland Hospital Volunteer Association, and a member of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church. Anita was the focal point of her entire family, everyone looked to her for information, advice and guidance. She enjoyed the holidays, making sure that everything was just right for her family, especially her grandchildren. Anita is survived by her husband Jerry; two daughters-Mona Burkett & Rene' (Bruce) Gelder-both of Benton Harbor; six grandchildren-Heather (Casey) Caid, Andy Burkett, Jeremy Burkett, Mathew (Christina) Gelder, Marc Gelder, Mary Gelder; three great-grandchildren-Jeremiah Burkett, and Eli & Jonah Caid; two brothers-Arthur (Elsie) Wolske of Eau Claire, Orland (Ilda) Wolske of Benton Harbor; her sister-in-law Helga Wolske of Benton Harbor; and several nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, twin infant daughters Jean & Jane Ellis in 1966, two brothers Eric Wolske, Alvin Wolske, and a sister-in-law Hilda Wolske.