David Oliver Ellis

David O. Ellis, 83, of Brookfield passed away peacefully on Monday, March 19, 2018, with his daughter by his bedside. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, daughter Susan (Rick) Jessen, and granddaughter Johanna Jessen. He was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Elwyn Ellis and his brother Graham Ellis. Born on May 13, 1934 in Springfield, MA, he grew up in Lima, OH and Cedarburg, where he graduated from CHS in the class of '52. He served in the U.S. Army and then graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1959. His work as a securities analyst took him to San Francisco and Denver. His integrity and analytical ability produced a satisfying career and the respect of his peers in the industry. He retired in 1990. The family moved to Illinois to be near family, and then eventually to Orange County, CA. In retirement, Dave's desire to serve others led him to help corporations organize food drives to supply food pantries. On a personal level he befriended many individuals with various needs. Volunteering through church was another priority. Sadly, heart problems and vascular dementia altered these activities and again a move was made, to Brookfield, to be near the Jessen family. For the next 11 years, Dave relished Sunday BBQ's on the Jessen deck, as he supervised the pool and played with the dog. Johanna was the light of his days and he enjoyed her dance recitals and competitions, choir concerts, and all the other fun of watching her grow up. Even as he declined he did his best to be helpful and make people smile. Our family is very grateful to everyone who lived this journey with us. Visitation for David will be from 11:00 a.m. until the start of services at 1:00 p.m. on Friday March 23, 2018, at Elmbrook Church 777 S Barker Rd, Brookfield, WI 53045. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Waukesha Food Pantry, 1301 Sentry Drive, Waukesha, WI 53186, or to an organization of your choice.