Ellen Jane Staack, 89, of Readlyn, Iowa, died on Monday, December 5, 2011 at the Oelwein Health Care Center, Oelwein.

Ellen was born on February 28, 1922, in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin, the daughter of David M. and Adeline F. (Simon) Swank. She was baptized on July 31, 1937, at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Turtle Lake and attended the Happy Corner grade school. She was confirmed on March 30, 1947, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Readlyn. Ellen worked as a housekeeper and also did U.S.O. work at Fort Snelling while she lived in Minnesota. On June 11, 1942, she was united in marriage to Ervin Staack in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1945, the couple moved to Readlyn, Iowa where Ellen worked for the Rath Packing Company in Waterloo for a short time and also worked for the Readlyn Hatchery. Later, Ellen worked as a cook for several restaurants in Readlyn. She retired from the Center Inn in 1983. Ellen moved to the Oelwein Care Center in October of 2010.

Ellen was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Readlyn, where she was very active with the ladies aid. She was also a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary. She was crowned the Readlyn Town Grump in 1994. She enjoyed fishing and playing cards.
She is survived by a daughter, Katherine (Larry) Heinemann of Readlyn, Iowa; three sons, Kenneth Staack of Saxe, Virginia; Keith (Janell) Staack of Shell Rock, Iowa and Kevin Staack of Dacono, Colorado; nine grandchildren, Roxie (Mitch) Gipper, Sandy (David) Muzzey, David (Jodie) Heinemann, Daryl (Lynae) Heinemann, Stephanie Staack, Travis Staack, Ryan Staack, Tina (Jeff) Mooney, and Lisa Staack; thirteen great grandchildren, Josh (Kristen) Gipper, Jason (Brianne) Gipper, Shawn Gipper, Samantha Gipper, Alyssa Gipper, Rachel Muzzey, Chelsie Mason, Gavin Heinemann, Jacob Heinemann, Matthew Heinemann, and Landon Staack, Hannah Staack and Alex Staack, her brother, Harry Swank of Comstock, Wisconsin and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ervin, two brothers, John and Donald Swank, seven sisters, Irene, Rita, Dorothy, Josephine, Marie, Lillian, and Rebecca in infancy and a grandson, Alex Staack.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Burial will be held in St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery, Readlyn. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Funeral Home, Readlyn. Memorials may be directed to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, the Oelwein Health Care Center, or to the Readlyn Library.