Joseph W. Ellis - 3rd Armored

Ferhilt · Sep 10, 2008

Joseph W. Ellis

CHATFIELD, MN -- The funeral Mass for Joseph W. Ellis will be at 1 p.m. Sept. 14 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Chatfield, with the Rev. Russell Scepaniak officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery.

Mr. Ellis, 90, died Monday (Sept. 1, 2008) in Rochester, of heart disease.

He was born May 6, 1918, in Chatfield, graduated from Chatfield High School in 1936, and attended St. Mary's College in Winona. He was a rural letter carrier for 36 years, and a painter/decorator most of his life.

He served in the 3rd Armored Infantry Division during World War II and drove a half-track in Europe. On Oct. 27, 1945, he married Rosella Sullivan at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Simpson; she preceded him in death in January 2007.

Mr. Ellis was an avid sports fan and enjoyed fishing, woodworking, and bird watching. A lifelong member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, he provided leadership on the Maintenance and Parish councils. He was also a member of the American Legion and VFW, as well as the State and National 3rd Armored Division Association and the State and National Rural Letter Carriers Association.

Survivors include six children, Deanna Himmer (Jacques Michaud) of Richfield, Minn., Jim Ellis, Dan (Laurie) Ellis of Park City, Utah, Mary Jean Whalen of Chatfield, Rosanne (Harold) Beckala of Rochester and Kevin Ellis of Eagan, Minn.; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a sister, Sr. Nadine Ellis of Rochester. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Don.

Friends may call from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 13 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, and an hour before the service Sept. 14 at the church.

Memorials are suggested to the St. Mary's Catholic Church elevator fund.

Macken Funeral Home of Rochester is in charge of arrangements.
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liverpool annie · Sep 10, 2008

Ferhilt said: ↑

Joseph W. Ellis
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As a "heavy" division, the 3rd Armored possessed two armored regiments totalling four medium tank battalions and two of light tanks (18 companies) instead of three tank battalions containing both (12 companies), 232 Medium tanks instead of the 168 allotted a light armored division, and with attached units numbered over 16,000 men, instead of the normal 12,000 found in the light armored divisions. Each division type had an infantry component of three mechanized infantry battalions.
As with most American divisions in World War II, the 3rd Armored suffered heavy casualties, and by the end of the war replacement troops often outnumbered veterans in the line units.
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RIP Joseph and thank you !

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