Ellen Rose Grimm

Ellen Rose Grimm was born June 3rd, 1939 in Waterloo Nebraska to Catherine and Louis Villwok. Ellen grew up in Waterloo, attending Waterloo Public Schools and graduating in 1957. Ellen was the youngest of 9 children. 4 older siblings were of the Foley family, while her immediate family consisted of 5 Villwok’s. Ellen had 3 sisters and one brother in the Villwok family. Ellen was a very studious student during her years at Waterloo. She participated in several extra- curricular activities such as Volleyball and Cheerleading. She was popular in school but also very connected to her siblings. Ellen grew up with a strong Catholic faith. During her later high school years, she met a man that really took her heart, and that was Adolph Grimm (our father). They dated for several years after her high school graduation and were married on April 18th, 1959 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Elkhorn. They then lived south of Waterloo on a farm just next to the original Grimm Farm (now Riverside Lakes). Their family began there with the oldest of Tom being born in 1960. They moved to the town of Valley for a short while, while they looked to find a farm to own. In 1962 they found and purchased that farm (the farm she lived on for the next 61 years). Shortly after moving, son #2 was born, Ken. In 1967 a girl was born, Connie which now completed the family. Ellen did work outside the home for a short time at Western Electric as a type setter. Once the farm became active with sheep and crops she quit her job and became a full time Mom and Farm Wife. Ellen loved the outdoors and gardening. She gardened every year, until this year. She loved her tomatoes and always had at them in the garden. She also loved planting flowers and having a very colorful array of them around the house and anywhere along buildings, or areas that they would not be run over. She especially loved roses and had an array of them along the driveway. During their time living in the area they became members of St. John’s parish in 1961 and continued with the parish until her death. During her years on the farm, and most notably once the kids left, she became Dad’s right hand man, learning to drive tractors, haul corn, and help Adolph with the farming. But she always made sure she had supper ready and on the table for Adolph at 5 pm. She was a very dedicated farm wife and loving mother. One of the most notable family memories is having Christmas eve at her house as the family grew. It became a tradition starting in 1979 and continued for 39 years. Christmas was a special time of year she absolutely loved. She always decorated for the Christmas Holiday. She loved all her children and as grandchildren and great grandchildren came along, she embraced all of them. She has 10 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Ellen will be remembered as a caring and kind person to the entire family as it grew through the years. She loved when the grandkids stopped by to show her their newest addition to the family. Sadly, Ellen passed away on July 16th, 2023 at the age of 84. She is survived by her children Tom & Elizabeth Grimm of Valley, Ken & Paula Grimm of Waterloo and Connie & Pat Wilhelm of Elkhorn and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Funeral Mass will be 10:30am Thursday at St. John's Catholic Church in Valley. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Elkhorn, NE. Visitation with Family will be from 5:00-7:00pm Wednesday with a Vigil service at 7:00pm at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Waterloo Volunteer Fire Department or to St. John's Catholic Church.

Ellen Rose Grimm

June 3, 1939 - July 16, 2023