White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

UPDATE: Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m. – Thursday, March 7, 2024 at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence, IA.

VINTON – Ellen J. Tempus, 76, died peacefully Dec. 23, 2023, while in hospice care at Lutheran Living Communities in Vinton, Iowa, where she had resided the past 4-1/2 years.

Memorial services were held, Wednesday, Jan. 3, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Knoxville, IA.

Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m. – Thursday, March 7, 2024 at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence, IA.

Ellen was born Oct. 26, 1947, in St. Paul, Minn. to Ole and Dagmar Nypan. In 1979, she married Leo Timlin, who died in 1989. She married Gene Tempus in Nashua, Iowa on Sept. 6, 1997. He died in 2013.

She graduated from the University of Minnesota, then attended the St. Paul Ramsey Medical Center School of Anesthesia, graduating in 1977. She first worked as a nurse anesthetist at hospitals in St. Paul and Faribault, MN. After her second marriage, she provided anesthesia to patients at hospitals in the Phoenix area and Sterling, CO.

Ellen then worked as a traveling nurse anesthetist in several states for a few years before retiring in 2010, when she and Gene moved to Pella, Iowa.

She is survived by Gene’s children: Kent (Denise) Tempus of Green Bay, WI; Elena (Joe) Schmitz of Independence, IA; Mitch (Carole) Tempus of Blair, NE; and Scott (Sue) Tempus of Ellenton, FL.

Ellen is further survived by grandchildren: Annette (John) Ritchison of Marion, IA; Jessica (Cory) Ragsdale of Independence, IA; Alexandra Tempus of Los Angeles; Anna Mae (Dan) Zabrowski of Menomonie, WI; Austin Tempus of Cedar Rapids; Kimberly Tempus of Marion, IA; Kyle (Alyssa) Schneider of Omaha; and great grandchildren Kenley, Noah, Dean, Zoe, Piper and Marlee.

She is also survived by a sister, Karen Namie of Champlin, Minn.; and two brothers-in-law, Roger Tempus of Independence, IA, and Gary (Roxie) Tempus of Smithland, KY.

Besides her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents and her two beloved cats, Patches and Henry.

Ellen was a first-generation American, as her parents had emigrated from Norway. She was proud of her Norwegian roots, and she and Gene had traveled there for more than two weeks, visiting numerous cousins and seeing the beautiful landscapes and majestic fjords.

She also personified her Norwegian heritage, as her family knew her to be “independent and strong-willed.” Those qualities were amply illustrated when she went as a single on a group tour of Europe in the early 90s, and her efforts to live on her own terms in the face of debilitating pain from arthritis.

Before the pain made it too difficult, Ellen enjoyed preparing fancy dishes with Gene to serve to friends and family when they visited, as well serving as a volunteer at the hospital and a thrift store in Pella.

Throughout her life, Ellen was sustained by her strong Lutheran faith.

Ellen enjoyed reading, religious music, playing Scrabble, a daily glass of wine (or two) and picking up the tab when eating out with her family.

Ellen’s family gratefully acknowledges the assisted living and skilled nursing staff of Lutheran Living Communities of Vinton, who provided her with wonderful and loving care over the past two years, and Compassus, who gave Ellen tender and thoughtful assistance in her final weeks.

Her stepsons also give special thanks to their sister Elena for her time, commitment and advocacy in Ellen's care since moving to Vinton.

Condolences may be placed at www.White-MtHope.com

White Funeral Home, Independence, IA, is in charge of arrangements.