Josephine Ellefson

Josephine “Pip” N. Ellefson, 91, of Clear Lake, died Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.  A funeral service was held Saturday, July 20, 2013 at Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, with Msgr. Joseph J. Slepicka  officiating.  Burial followed in Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made to Hospice of North Iowa.

Josephine N. Ellefson, daughter of Domenic and Spenalba Ciarma Nardicchio, was born April 10, 1922 in Mason City.  She received her education at McKinley and Lincoln elementary before graduating from Mason City High School.  She was united in marriage to Vernon V. Ellefson Sr. on Oct. 21, 1942 in Clear Lake and to this union four children were born; Vernon Jr., Lucinda, Errol, and Kathy.

The family resided in Clear Lake all of their life while Josephine worked at the Clear Lake Bakery in retail for over 25 years before retiring in 1982.  

Pip’s baking was one of a kind.  Some of her other passions included crocheting, cooking, sewing, and crafts.  

Pip is survived by her four children, Vernon (Sally) Ellefson Jr, Clear Lake, Lucinda Sue (Dean) Wefel, Clarksville, Iowa, Errol (Kay) Ellefson, North Liberty, Iowa, and Kathy Boeshart Treanor, Clear Lake.; 14 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lena Peyton, Belmond, Iowa, and Florence Dewey, Clear Lake; along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two grandchildren, Ryan and Jeff Boeshart; brother, Joe Nardicchio; and her two sisters, Pauline Nardicchio and Mary Lamb.

Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapelwas in charge of arrangements.