Max Ellis

FUNERAL SERVICES : 3:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 27, 2012 at Grace Community Church in Osage, MN.VISITATION : 5-8:00 P.M. on Friday, October 26, 2012 at Grace Community Church in Osage, MN and for one hour prior to the service on Saturday.INTERMENT : Riverside Cemetery in Osage, MNSURVIVORS : His children: Rosemary Shutt of Austin, MN, Ronald (Lonna) of Lyle, MN, Carl (Linda) Ellis of Lyle, MN, Sandy (Marvin) Haara of Hutchinson, MN and Todd (Tammy) of Cherry, MN; 10 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren and 1 sister, Marjorie Cullen of Little Canada, MN. MAX E. ELLISAugust 29, 1927 ~ October 24, 2012 Max Earl Ellis, age 85 of Park Rapids, MN passed away on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at the Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids. Max was born on August 29, 1927 in Centerville, Iowa to Clarence and Nellie (Passell) Ellis. At the age of 1, Max moved with his parents to the Austin, Minnesota area. He attended country school in the Red Rock Township area near Austin. Max grew up learning the value of good hard work while working long hard days on his parent"s livestock and crop farm. At the age of 15, Max gained employment working for Hormel in Austin for a time. At the age of 16 Max ventured to Portland, Oregon where he worked in the ship yards during World War II. While in Portland, Max bought a Harley Davidson motorcycle which he motored up and down the coast. Max returned to Minnesota in 1944 and resumed his career with the Hormel Company. On January 31, 1947, Max was united in marriage to Arvilla Marie Hanson. This union was blessed with 5 children: Rosemary, Ronald, Carl, Sandra and Todd. During the 36 years he invested in Hormel, he also owned and operated a concrete company for 10 years. In 1959, Max purchased a farm west of Lyle, MN where he dairy farmed. Max enjoyed working with his sons in the caring for his livestock and raising the crops needed for his stock. In 1981, Max sold the farm and he and Arvilla moved to a home on Straight Lake near Osage. Max and Arvilla made their home on the lake until the early 2000"s when they moved to Park Rapids. Max"s life was forever changed by the death of his wife in 2005. Max loved the great out doors and especially enjoyed hunting antelope and mule deer in Wyoming and Montana. He also made many pheasant hunting trips into Iowa. Throughout his lifetime, Max enjoyed fishing the Park Rapids area and the Canadian waters. In his spare time, Max enjoyed repairing small engines and doing wood carvings. He was a long time member of the Grace Community Church in Osage, the Osage Lions, the Osage Sportsmans Club and the Park Rapids Eagles Aerie #879. Above all, Max devoted his life to his precious wife, Arvilla; his children, his grandchildren and his great grandchildren who he loved with all his heart. He will be lovingly remembered by his children: Rosemary Shutt of Austin, MN, Ronald (Lonna) of Lyle, MN, Carl (Linda) Ellis of Lyle, MN, Sandy (Marvin) Haara of Hutchinson, MN and Todd (Tammy) of Cherry, MN; 10 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren and 1 sister, Marjorie Cullen of Little Canada, MN.Max was preceded in death by his wife, Arvilla in 2005; his parents; 5 brothers and 4 sisters.Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 27, 2012 at Grace Community Church in Osage, MN with Reverend Clair Schwalm officiating. Virginia Schwalm will be the organist. Carl Ellis will sing "In the Garden". The congregational hymns will be: "How Great Thou Art", "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Amazing Grace". The casketbearers will be: Scott Ellis, Alan Ellis, Chad Ellis, Rod Ellis, Tony Boyd and Ken Marx. Visitation will be held from 5-8:00 P.M. on Friday, October 26, 2012 at Grace Community Church in Osage, MN and for one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Interment will be held at the Riverside Cemetery in Osage, MN.