Jenny M. Ellisen

Ellisen, Jenny M. (Engebretsen)

Jenny Margot Ellisen, age 96, Appleton, formerly of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, died Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at Appleton Medical Center after a brief illness. Jenny was born on July 27, 1915 in Arendal, Norway, daughter of the late Jonah and Marie (Nilsen) Engebretsen. Jenny had a happy childhood in coastal southern Norway where she skied to school and enjoyed helping her father and mother manage the household. In 1935, at age 20 she emigrated to the United States and settled in the heavily Scandinavian community of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Jenny married Otto Ellisen in 1937, and they were together thirty-seven years until his passing in 1974. She made numerous lifelong friends in Bay Ridge and was a long-time member of Redeemer St. John's Lutheran Church, serving this church she loved in many capacities.

Jenny was an incredibly energetic, positive and loving person. Above all, she enjoyed helping others. Jenny took great pride in her over forty-years of service as a volunteer at Lutheran Medical Center. Well into her eighties, she said she worked at the hospital to “help the elderlies.” She regularly visited and read for a blind friend, and she cared deeply for her family and friends.

Jenny is survived by her daughter, Lillian (Richard) Hull, son Rev. Dennis (Cathy) Ellisen, and son Stephen (Kelli) Ellisen; seven grandchildren: Laura Hull, Richard (Lisa) Hull, Hays Ellisen, Matthew Ellisen, Tyler Ellisen, Courtney Ellisen, and Sarah Ellisen; and seven-great grandchildren: Eric Sasso, Olivia Vataj, Amanda Hull, Nicholas Hull, Brynn Ellisen, Thomas Ellisen, and Tae Ellisen.

In addition to her parents, Jenny was preceded in death by her husband Otto Einar Ellisen, her brother Nils (Esther) Engebretsen, and her sisters Thordis (Gehrad) Marcussen, Ruth Olsen, Ragna Olsen, and Nancy Olsen.

Memorial services will be held at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 23, at Grace Lutheran Church, 900 Mason Street, Appleton, Wisconsin, with Pastor Judy Deckert officiating. Visitation will be at Grace Lutheran from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm.
A second memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, December 4, at Reedemer St. John's Lutheran Church, 939 83rd Street, Brooklyn, New York with Pastor Khader El-Yateem of Salam Arabic Lutheran Church officiating. Visitation will be held from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm, at the Parish Hall adjacent to the church.

Jenny's family wishes to thank the wonderful and caring staff of Carolina Manor and the great team at Appleton Medical Center for their loving care and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, checks may be made directly to Rev. Dennis Ellisen for Jenny's memorial fund.

Jenny, Tusen Takk! Vi Elsker Deg!

Wichmann Funeral Home
537 N. Superior St.
Appleton, WI 54911
(920) 739-1231