Eleanor Marjorie "Ellie" Pelzer

Eleanor "Ellie" Marjorie Pelzer, age 90 years, seven months and 26 days, of Atlantic, (formerly Griswold) passed away peacefully on the afternoon of Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, surrounded by her loving family.
Ellie was born on Dec. 20, 1934, in Lebanon, S. D., to Adolph and Mary Bess (Lawrence) Erickson. The family farmed there until moving to Whitewood, S. D. in 1939. A proud graduate of Spearfish High School, she became the first member of her family to attend college, earning her 3-year registered nursing degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
While studying in Omaha, one of Ellie's closest lifelong friends, the late Pat Echtermeyer (Mills) of Cumberland, (later Denver, Colo.), arranged a blind date that changed her life. She met Leon "Bill" Pelzer of Lyman, and the two quickly fell in love. When her loyalty to her parents and her responsibility to help care for her younger siblings threatened their plans, Bill braved snowy roads to Spearfish, S. D., where he won Ellie's hand. On Dec. 31, 1955, they eloped, beginning a marriage that would span almost 28 years, before Bill passed away from a long, heroic bout with cancer.
Ellie served as a nurse at Cass County Memorial Hospital for several years. Together with Bill, they purchased the family farm just outside Lyman, which had originally been acquired by Bill's great-great-uncle, John Pelzer, on Oct. 9, 1871. Together, they worked the land and raised four children. Their home was filled with laughter, hard work, and boundless generosity-and sometimes even served as an impromptu rural emergency room when neighbors and friends stopped by for Ellie to apply butterfly bandages instead of stitches or to assess a broken arm or leg at the kitchen table. Throughout her life, Ellie remained active in the American Red Cross, Noble Township United Methodist Church, and later the Griswold United Methodist Church. She also dedicated countless hours to the American Legion Auxiliary Post 508.
Ellie stayed on the family farm after her beloved husband died in 1983. It was a challenging time in those first years. She worked at First Whitney Bank in Atlantic, Iowa while continuing to farm the land, relying on her deep knowledge of every furrow and fence post. Even after she retired from the bank and her sight began to diminish, she stayed on the farm and adapted her daily routines to tend the land she and Bill cherished, her resolve as undimmed as ever. In 2021, her lifelong dream was realized, and the family farm was designated a Heritage Farm. She then moved to Heritage House Assisted Living in Atlantic, and thoroughly enjoyed her time there with old friends and many new ones.
True to her lifelong commitment to service and as a proud Creighton University alumna, Ellie's wishes were to donate her body to the Anatomical Board of the State of Nebraska. Ellie's thoughtful and selfless gift will be vital to helping science education, research, and surgical advances, and will carry on the compassionate legacy she lived every day.
Those left to cherish Ellie's memory are her four children: Randall Pelzer (Carol) of Emmetsburg; Debra Paul (Dennis) of Boulder, Colo.; Beth Kimpson (Stan) of Griswold; and Lisa Vetter (Greg) of Red Oak. She also leaves 11 grandchildren and their spouses: Randy's children: Rachael Jungers (Derrick), Bill Pelzer (Dana), Eric Pelzer (Brianna), and Ashley Forrer (Brandon); Debra's children: Alex Paul and Allie Paul; Beth's children: Gabe Kimpson (Ari), Morgan "Mo" Kimpson (Fallon); Lisa's children: Mallie Kludt (Steve), Mandie Reynolds (Josh), Sydney Ritter (Scott); and 12 great-grandchildren, including Alexis, Landry, and Brevin Kludt; Jalen and Jett Reynolds; Maggie and McCoy Ritter; Declan and Hazel Jungers; Parker and Emmet Forrer; and Nick Daeges.
Additional survivors include sisters-in-law Ella (Duane) Erickson of Spearfish, S. D.; Cleda (Chris) Erickson of Ukiah, Calif.; Leona (Gerald "Jerry") Erickson of Prunedale, Calif.; and Betty Lou (Norman) Pelzer of Gothenburg, Neb.; and her brother-in-law, Max Pelzer of Estherville, and many other relatives and friends.
Ellie was preceded in death by her loving husband, Leon "Bill" Pelzer; brothers Leif, Duane, Lauren "Bumpy," Chris, Carl, and Gerald "Jerry" Erickson; her sister Bertha "Bert" Dempcy-Harris; her sisters-in-law Shirley (Leif), Minnie (Lauren "Bumpy"), and Fran (Carl); and brother-in-law Jack Dempcy.
In her later years, Ellie was lovingly supported by many friends whose constant kindness became the gentle backdrop of her daily life. Barb Waters and Nancy Freeman accompanied her to frequent doctor's appointments and brightened her days with outings. Their kindness brought boundless comfort and joy. Annual pilgrimages from the Cable family rekindled treasured memories of our parents and their dear friends long gone. Their visits warmed her heart and made each reunion feel like home.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Griswold United Methodist Church with Pastor Jess Jacobsen officiating. A luncheon will be served at the church immediately following.
The family respectfully requests that memorials be directly sent to the American Legion Auxiliary Post 508, PO Box 561, Griswold, Iowa 51535. Condolences may be sent online at www.giftsyouleftbehind.com or emailed to InMemoryOfElliePelzer@gmail.com or directly to any one of her children.