Jerry Donald Ellis, 74, of De Soto died Nov. 29, 2022, in Festus. Born March 6, 1948, in Murphysboro, Ill., he was the son of the late Alice (Boyer) and Daniel E. Ellis.
Mr. Ellis was a truck driver for Thyssen Krupp. He was a member of YMCA, where he had several close friends. He enjoyed having coffee with his friends, playing pickleball, building model planes and spending time with his puppy, Buddy.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years: Bonnie Ellis; three sons: Robert E. Ellis of Louisville, Ky., Jason Welker of Pevely and Corey (Bobbie) Welker of Festus; two daughters: Amanda (Robert Peters) Wester of O'Fallon and Michelle (Butch) Whitehead of Bonne Terre; three brothers: Bill (Sharon) Ellis of Pevely, Dale (Bridgett) Ellis of Poplar Bluff and Darlene (Mike) Porter of Murphysboro, Ill.; a brother-in-law: Glen (Jodonna) Neifert of Imperial, a sister-in-law: Rose (Jimmy Johnson) Whitney of Herculaneum; four grandsons: Aaron Wester, Timothy Williams, Christopher Lipina and Peyton Whitehead; numerous nieces and nephews; and several pets.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until noon Monday, Dec. 5, at Mahn Funeral Home, 900 N. Main St., in De Soto, followed immediately by services officiated by Michael McGee. Burial will follow in Peaceful Ridge Cemetery in De Soto. Memorials may be made to lung cancer research. Arrangements are under the direction of Mahn Funeral Homes.