"Just found out about Lindsay, our deepest sympathy goes out to Pat and family. He was a great guy and will be missed by all who knew him."
In loving memory of
Lindsay Craig Ellingson
July 29, 1948 - November 12, 2015
Lindsay Craig Ellingson, age 67, of Ames, Iowa, died Nov. 12 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Visitation will be held from 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov 21, at Gilbert High School Auditorium. A celebration of Lindsay's life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, at Gilbert High School Auditorium. Interment will be at a later date.
Lindsay was born in Bloomfield, Nebraska, on July 29, 1948, the son of Earl C. and Audree (Koftan) Ellingson. As he grew up, he lived in Cedar Rapids; Ames (a true southsider); Boone; Oregon, WI; and Center, NE, before moving to the Gilbert area where he chose to remain. He graduated from Gilbert High School in 1966 where he met the love of his life, Patricia Cox. They started dating in 1964 and were married in Ames, Iowa, on August 10, 1968.
Lindsay's first job was making popcorn at A&W Root Beer at the age of 12. As a teen he flipped hamburgers at Henry's Hamburgers in Ames. During high school he worked at Jim Brown's Service Station and then at the Deep Rock Gas Station, both at the Gilbert corner. In 1968 he became a masonry apprentice and worked with his brother, Mike Ellingson. In 1972 Lindsay became a firefighter at the Ames Fire Department and started his own masonry business, LCE Quality Masonry, continuing to do both until 1988 when he went to work for United Brick & Tile as a brick salesman. He worked hard in his quest to brick Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas.
Lindsay's favorite things were riding the open road with the Rubber Knife Gang; cruising the Main Streets, highways, and biways in one of his classic cars; having coffee with his coffee guys at the Gilbert Community Center, The Grove, and the Harley shop; cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones, especially going to football games; being a devoted fan of all Gilbert athletics and many kids throughout the years but the most devoted fan of his daughters and now his grandkids. After his family, his friends were most important to him. He never met a stranger.
Lindsay is survived by his wife, Pat Ellingson; daughters and sons-in-law, Jill and Mike Kruse and their children Emma, Raney and Bowen, and Kate and Doug Stephens and their children Camden and Hudson; his brothers, Mike (Pat) Ellingson and Patrick Pantenburg, and one sister, Penny (Kenneth)"Jocko" Mindemann; sisters-in-law Susan Lyon, Nancy (Art) Bates, and Diane Cox (Ron Jones); and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Dennis Ellingson; and a brother-in-law, Joe Lyon.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Gilbert Education Foundation to establish a scholarship in his name.
Online condolences may directed to www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com
Tributes
"I first met Lindsay on a masonry project on ISU campus. I really got to know Lindsay while I was the foreman when we built the new Gilbert high school. The love he had for the community was so strong. He was so proud to have his whole family go through the school district. It was nice to put a face on his daughters when I saw them at the service on Sunday, as he talked about them every Time he stopped by. Always had doughnuts when we worked a Saturday, or a free hat if he saw me at the office in Urbandale. He will be greatly missed in the brick industry. "
"Lindsey was an amazing person..always had a smile and just maybe a joke when he came to our office. He will be greatly missed by all. My thoughts and prayers go out to all his family and friends!"
"We first met Lindsay at Vette Fest and had intermittent contact over the years through Corvette events.
He was very knowledgeable about Corvettes and a fun guy.
Condolences to family"
"I am not sure how many know this,but Lindsay still holds the Gilbert School track records in the 4x100 & 4x200. These records were set in 1966 and have yet to be broken! As I was reflecting on Lindsay's life this week, I came across two Bible passages that describe Lindsay quite well. & references the "race".
1 Corinthians 9:24 - "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." Lindsay won over many people by the way he approached life and relationships. He definitely won the prize of life by the way he ran his life.
2 Timothy 4:7 - Lindsay fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. What an amazing man!! You will be greatly missed!
"
"Prayers and thoughts to Ellingson Family. Lindsay was always such a positive force in the brick industry!! Fine man, he will be missed! "
"Pat, My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do"
"To all of us in the brick world Lindsay was a genuine friend. He always had a good word for whoever he was talking to. He always had an answer for any question you had. For us here at Cloud Ceramics and Kansas Brick & Tile we always appreciated it when he sold our brick while he was on the road. We will miss him. Please know that we will continue to keep his family and his friends in our prayers. "
"Thoughts and Prayers are with your family. Lindsay was a good person and will be missed by everyone. May God be with you all."
"My thoughts & prayers are with Lindsay's family & friends. Lindsay was truly a great person & will be missed by so many. "
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all who loved Lindsay. "
"Prayers and warm hugs to Pat and family. We love you all and already miss that great smile and sense of humor of Lindsay's. His death will never diminish the love we carry in our hearts for him and because of him. We all embrace you in your loss. "
"Lindsay had a great heart for people and will certainly be missed. From a masonry standpoint, I believe I learned as much from him as any other single individual I ever met. May his traditions of excellence be maintained in the masonry industry."
"I don't know where to start with my relationship with Lindsay. I first met him as a distributor salesman with a local Wisconsin brick distributor sometime in the 1990's. When I became a national brick rep for Triangle Brick Company, Lindsay became my mentor and led me through the quagmire of setting up customers and selling brick, even though we were in competition with each other nationally. I owe a lot to Lindsay and am sorry to say did not get to see him much in the last 4 years due to a change of employment. I considered Lindsay a close business associate but more so a very good friend. You will be missed. Bless you buddy. "
"Our deepest sympathy goes out to Lindsay's family. He was more than a joy to be around. Every time he would come to Texas he brightened up our entire sales team.
He would always help you and give you advice no matter what role you carried. He was a shinning light in the Brick industry.
From all of your friends at Upchurch Kimbrough Co. we will miss you. God Bless."
"There are people in your life that you just take for granted that will be there forever. I honestly think that most of us have never thought about a Gilbert event without Lyndsay there, cheering Gilbert youth to be the best they can be. My heart goes out to Pat, Jill and Kate, and the rest of his family. I am deeply sorry for your pain and loss. Many people are praying for you during this difficult time. Love to you all."
"I've known Lindsay for many years in many roles. He came into Fareway to purchase groceries when he worked at the Fire Department, he was a colleague of my father as a bricklayer, he was a fellow southsider with my husband, he was a fellow classic car enthusiast and most importantly he was totally devoted to his family. He will be missed."
"Our heartfelt sympathy is with the Ellingson family during this difficult time. We were so privileged to be able to work with such a wonderful individual. Lindsay will be greatly missed by all of us at Upchurch Kimbrough Company, but his warmth, kindness, and amazing spirit will be remembered forever. "What moves through us is a silence, a quiet sadness, a longing for one more day, one more word, one more touch. We may not understand why you left this earth so soon, or why you left before we were ready to say good-bye, but little by little, we begin to remember not just that you died, but that you lived. And that your life gave us memories too beautiful to forget" -Author Unknown "
"On behalf of the Ames Fire Department, we extend our deepest sympathies for your loss. Our thoughts are with the Ellingson family during these difficult times. Linday's many years of dedicated service to the department was much appreciated."
"Our deepest sympathies to the Ellingson family from the entire staff at Lusco Brick & Stone Co., Wichita, Kansas. Lindsay was a favorite to us not only because of his professionalism but the friendly way he dealt with all people. We will miss him!"
"My heartfelt sympathy is with all of you. I have amazing memories of him and how he looked after my brother on the Ames FD and me while attending ISU. He was a wonderful man."
"I had the pleasure of meeting Lindsay this past Spring at Brick School in Adel. The limited interaction we had left quite an impression on me. What a kind man with an amazing personality! I was so sad to hear of his passing. May you forever feel his wonderful presence. He will be missed!"
"Lindsay was one of a kind and truly one of the best at Sioux City Brick. He will be missed. We also enjoyed dirt track racing at Boone with Lindsay for several years. Prayers are with your family during this difficult time."
" Lindsay Craig Ellingson. A strong name fit for a strong man. I will always remember Lindsay's smile, sense of humor, and willingness to lay down his life for others. I'm honored to have known him. I'm trusting God with you, Pat, and your precious family. I'm thankful that we have a Comforter. Love, Becky "
"Lindsay was very special. He was so much fun and would help you anytime. He is going to be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends."
"What a Great Man. Kent knew him well. He works for SMI and had much contact with Lindsay for many years. God Bless You All."
"It is a testament to the substance of an individual when so many are mourning the loss of a loved one and friend. I spent some time reading the Facebook postings shared by many of the people whose lives were touched by Lindsay over the years. Most of us can only hope that our time on earth has impacted so many people. The last time Steve and I saw Lindsay was in September when Steve's mother was in the hospital in Nevada, Iowa. Lindsay stopped by several times to see her and to see how we were holding up, and showed up at her funeral visitation. The Gilbert Class of 66 lost a classmate who was integral in building and sustaining school and community pride many years after high school graduation. My prayers are being directed to Pat, Jill, Kate and their families, as well as to Penny and Mike and their families. May God bring you peace and comfort, and may your fond memories sustain you in the days ahead."
"What great man,he will be missed so much! I will remember his great personality, his smile, the time's he was giving me some crap!My toughts & prayers are with all of you!R.P.I "Lindsay""