Ellen M. Harris

Ellen M. Harris, 74 of Iron River, MI, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, September 16, 2024. She was born August 26, 1950, the daughter of the late Douglas Hanmer and Marion (Uren) Dobson. Ellen was raised in a loving home with Marion and Jack Dobson with her brothers Michael Hanmer, John Robert and Arnold Dobson. She left her family home and married her high school sweetheart Robert Harris on February 10, 1967. They enjoyed many adventures together over their 43 years, until Rob’s passing on March 9, 2009. She loved to travel with him in their small motorhome to warm weather destinations in the winter and summers were filled with riding their Harleys with friends. Music was always playing and attending concerts with friends in the summer and fall was an annual event marked on her calendar. She also loved her time traveling and just relaxing with her daughter Jodi and granddaughters Shira and Devan. Ellen was blessed with Asher, her great-grandson, and enjoyed her time snuggling him. She also enjoyed her time with extended family and many loving friends. Ellen had found her passion in careers. She was a Surgical Technician at Rapid City Regional Hospital for years, and after relocating to Appleton, WI she worked at a nursing home as a Central Supply Clerk. After Rob passed, she returned to Iron River to be closer to her family and retired from Bigari Ace Hardware, she enjoyed her time there with coworkers and she was always making new friends. Ellen had been a member of the Reino Unit 21 American Legion Auxiliary for many years. Ellen attended the First Baptist Church and believed her purpose in life was to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and encourages everyone to read and study John 3:16 and Psalms 23. Her favorite saying was “Life is not measured by the number of Breaths we take, but by the Moments that take our breath away.” Ellen is survived by her daughter, Jodi (Eugene) Heikkila of Iron River, MI; grandchildren, Shira (Mitch) Ness of Kingsford, MI and Devan (Jake Woolsey) Heikkila of Norway, MI; great-grandson, Asher Woolsey of Norway, MI; brother, Arnold Dobson of Austin, TX; bonus brother, John (Annie) Allaback of Menasha, WI; sister-in-law, Sue Hanmer of Iron River, MI; brother-in-law, Don (Debbie) Bomaster of Gaastra, MI; brother-in-law, Randy (Dolly) Harris of Yuma, AZ; sister-in-law, Molly Harris of Appleton, WI; nieces, nephew, extended family, and many friends. She was proceeded in death by her husband, Robert Harris; parents, Marion (Uren) and Jack Dobson; mother-in-law, Rose (Gagne) Harris; father-in-law, Robert K. Harris; brothers, Fredrick and Michael Hanmer and John Robert Dobson; sister, Jacqueline (Dobson) Bomaster; sister-in-law, Marsha Jackson; and niece, Rachelle Kepperling. A visitation will be held on Friday, October 11, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Jacobs Funeral Home of Iron River. Reino Unit 21 American Legion Auxiliary will conduct a Poppy Ceremony after the visitation. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. with Paul Black, Chaplain and Pastor Al Smith to officiate. Interment will be at the Resthaven Cemetery. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ellen M. Harris, please visit our flower store.