Tom Ellis

Tom Ellis, age 71, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 16th at the KC Hospice House. He was born on June 24, 1951 to Muriel (Quistorff) and Donald Ellis in Sac City, Iowa. He was the fourth of six children, Pat (Ellis) Houdeshell, Butch (Larry) Ellis, Mary Jo Ellis, Jody Ellis and Tina (Ellis) Hergenreter.

Tom moved around Iowa a lot as a child, graduating from Boone Valley High, then attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls for a few years, where he met his ex-wife, Jane (Hammen) Ellis. They lived in Jolly Iowa until 1987 before moving to Callendar, Iowa, where Tom was a farmer in the spring, summer and fall. During this time, he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, and was a CPA during the winter months. After Tom had raised his family, he moved off the farm to Shawnee, Kansas in 2007 to work at another CPA firm and to be closer to family.

Tom was known for this amazing sense of humor, quick wit, intelligence, loyalty, shoot it straight personality and big heart. He knew countless facts about history, politics, loved to bike and jog and was a lover of classical music and public television. He loved his family and friends and went to every event he could make for both is kids growing up, and then his grandkids. He never showed up to any event to see his grandchildren without a piece of candy or some little toy in hand.

He is survived by his siblings: Pat Houdeshell, Jody Ellis and Tina Hergenreter; children and spouses: Tony Ellis and Marite Adem Ellis, Sarah (Ellis) Burton and Nathan Burton, Michelle (Ellis) Mosier and Joe Mosier. He also leaves behind 7 grandchildren, Camilla Ellis, Ben Ellis, Quentin Burton, Xavier Burton, Olivia Mosier, Luke Mosier and Elliot Mosier.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.