Memorial

Lonnie Ellsworth was born on August 21,1938, in Ryan, Iowa. He passed away on January 22, 2026, at the age of 87, at Silver Oaks Care Center in Marion, Iowa, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Lonnie grew up on a farm outside of Coggon, Iowa, and started his schooling in a one-room country school that his grandparents later purchased and converted into their home. Lonnie graduated from Coggon Community High School in 1958. He was known as a hard-working farm boy, and was recruited to work at a factory in Cedar Rapids. He then moved to Weyhauser and completed his work as a fork lift driver 47 years later.

During his long and active life, Lonnie enjoyed doing many things. A favorite for this “shade tree mechanic” was restoring classic cars to their original beauty (Fords only!) and showcasing them in parades. He also spent countless hours outdoors, fishing, camping, and snowmobiling; he was always doing something! In addition to an active life, Lonnie was a kind and generous man, surrounded up to the very end by family and friends.

Lonnie is preceded in death by his wife of 37 years, Betty Coder Ellsworth; his parents, George and Dorothy Ellsworth; his brother, Gary Ellsworth; his daughter, Lora Lee Ellsworth Cook, and his stepson, Kevin Coder.

He is survived by his partner of 14 years, Mary Henderson Price of Marion; his daughter, Dona Ellsworth Farrington, also of Marion; his sister, Shirley Ellsworth of Daytona Beach, Florida; his stepchildren, Connie Coder Beck, Kenny Coder, and Karan Coder Ruzicka, all of Cedar Rapids, and Dixie Coder Mueller of Central City. In addition, Lonnie is survived by 17 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, and 10 great-great grandchildren, a loving and loved legacy of his life.

Memorials may be given in Lonnie’s Memory to your charity of choice. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

A leaf falls in the night,
A candle flickers and is gone…
It has vanished beyond human sight,
But the spirit of the leaf
Will remain eternal.
So it is with love.

Author Unknown
(With love from brother Gary)