Obituaries : Dawn Marie Ellis (Wurtele)

Dawn Marie Ellis (Wurtele), 57, passed away on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, due to complications related to ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

She touched many people throughout her life and will be deeply missed by family and friends.

Dawn Marie was born on June 2, 1968, in Cedar Rapids, IA to C. Jay and Gail (Stewart) Wurtele and graduated from George Washington High School in 1986. She graduated from Iowa State University in 1994 and worked in counseling, research, and Social Services after graduation.

She met her husband, David Ellis, at college and was married on June 14, 1997. In 2000, she and David moved to Westminster, and later, to Loveland, CO.

She loved the outdoors and learned Natural History Illustration and watercolor and kept journals of local plants and seasonal changes. She enjoyed reading, knitting, the arts, science museums, national parks, and caring for her plants and cats.

Dawn Marie was preceded in death by her grandparents Clifford J. and Meta (Bergmann) Wurtele and George and Mildred (Spancake) Stewart; her sister Cara Jean; her father C. Jay Wurtele; and her uncle Michael Stewart.

She is survived by her husband David; mother Gail Stewart of Cedar Rapids; brother Ryan Wurtele (Jamie) of Atkins, IA; nephew Kayden and niece Cheyenne, also of Atkins; her aunt Myra Craven, of Black Canyon City, AZ; and her cousins Charles Phelps, Barb and Joe Scalia, and Steve Phelps.

Dawn Marie was diagnosed with ALS in late July 2024. Doctors still do not fully understand the disease and there is no cure. In Lieu of flowers, please donate to ALS United.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life at The Avacentre, 2121 Bowling St. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, on Sunday, September 7, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.broshchapel.com.