Winifred "Fritzie" Lea (Bartels) Ellis

Winifred “Fritzie” Lea Ellis, Beatrice, NE, passed away at age 83 on Friday, February 21, 2020 in Beatrice. She was born June 15, 1936 at the farm home of her parents in rural Steinauer, NE.  Fritzie graduated from Sterling High School in 1953 after graduation she taught at Hopewell country school. She obtained her Registered Nursing license in 1959, a Bachelor of Science degree from Midland Lutheran College in 1960 and a Master of Education from the University of Nebraska in 1988. She married Charles “Charlie” K. Ellis on April 28, 1962.

Fritzie’s  professional service was varied, her most loved jobs were those as nursing instructor at Lincoln General School of Nursing, the Beatrice State Developmental Center, Southeast Community College (Beatrice Campus), the KAW Area Technical School of Topeka, KS; and Washburn University Health Occupation Student’s of America advisor for the State of Kansas.

She was a member of Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Beatrice where she was a long-time member of Dorcas Society, the church choir and quilted with the Ladies Aide. Fritzie enjoyed being a part of family activities, watching Husker sports (Go Big Red!) and boxing, music of all kinds, quilting and embroidery; and keeping track of the all the points in the “favorite son-in-law contest between Todd and Pat.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Theodore “Ted” and Esther (Wolff) Bartels; her husband, Charles Ellis; sister, Donna Beth (Bartels) Saathoff.

Surviving family members include her daughters, Christine “Christy” Ellis and husband Pat McKeon; Elizabeth “Beth” Lineweber and husband Todd; granddaughter, Carley (Jones) Duensing and husband Cole, Miranda (Lineweber) Camin and husband Chris; great-grandson, Rhett Duensing and great-granddaughter, Piper Camin.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, February 27, 2020, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Beatrice with Pastor Greg Stuckwisch officiating. A private family burial will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Lincoln Memorial Park. The family will receive friends 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at Harman-Wright Mortuary, Beatrice. www.harmanwrightmortuary.com Harman-Wright Mortuary in charge of arrangements.

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