Jason Russell Ellis

Jason Russell Ellis, 43 of Duluth passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, October 28, 2020, from a previously undiagnosed medical issue. Jason was raised in Duluth and graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1995. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Communication from the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) in 2000. Jason worked at UMD for 14 years in several departments as an Office Operations Specialist, most recently in the Bulldog Resource Center. Prior to that, he was an AmeriCorps Vista at UMD. He married Shannan Twaddle on July 25, 2009 on the shore of Lake Superior at Brighton Beach in Duluth. Jason enjoyed supporting Minnesota sports teams and was a dedicated Twins fan. Jason was also a loyal U2 fan. His mother introduced him to U2 when she brought him to his first concert at the age of 14. Over the years, he attended a total of 17 U2 concerts all over the country. Jason was recently selected to host a segment, "Desire," on U2XM Radio and was asked back for a fan compilation segment. He was active with the ONE campaign, an advocacy and campaigning organization that fights extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Most of all, Jason loved his three children. His weekends were spent exploring the Northland with them and creating memories. A friend called him a beautiful soul. Anyone who knew him would agree. He was compassionate, genuine, caring, gentle, kind, respectful and heroic to his core. "The sky over our head We can reach it from our bed You let me in your heart And out of my head, head Oh can't you see what love has done?" ~Window in the Skies, U2 Jason is survived by his wife, Shannan; daughter, Evah; sons, Elijah and Eziah; mother, Judy Ellis; father, Russell Ellis; sister, Leah (Anthony) Payne; mother-in law, Suzanne Twaddle; sister-in-law, Melissa (David) Wilson; brother-in law, Michael (Amiee) Twaddle; nieces and nephews, Warren, Daphnie, Delanie, Tyson, Khloe, Isaac, Machia, Sophie, and Brielle; aunts, Susie (Terry) Schlais, Anne (Jeff) Haynes, Mary Ellis; uncles Robert Ellis and Gerard Ellis. Jason was preceded in death by his grandmother, Florence Peterson; grandfather, Ruben Gronlund; uncles, Dick (Lois) Gronlund, Floyd Gronlund; and father-in-law, Steve Twaddle. A celebration of Jason's life will be held at a later date when we can gather safely. If you would like to share a story with the family, sign the guest book, or offer a tribute, see www.atkinsnorthlandfuneralhome.com. Letters and cards of condolence may be sent to the family, c/o the funeral home, 801 14th St, Cloquet, MN 55720.