99 of Lincoln, IL, formerly of Macomb
James Robert Ellis, 99 of Lincoln, IL, formerly of Macomb, IL passed away at 4:45pm on Wednesday July 30, 2025 at St.
John’s Hospital in Springfield, IL.
He entered this world on November 14, 1925 along with his twin brother J William (Bill) born to J Roscoe & Lillian (Gamage) Ellis. In the early years he attended country school, graduating from Western High in 1944 while helping on the family farm. He served in the US Army stationed in Belgium serving until the end of WWII, receiving a Bronze Star for heroism. The twins attended college at Oklahoma A & M in Stillwater, OK where he met & married Doris M Turner in 1952. He brought his city girl back to Macomb to continue farming where they resided for 41 yrs until her death in 1993.
Bob, as he was known to family & friends was a Christian man & hard working farmer raising livestock, selling DeKalb seed corn & operated a corn shelling business, retiring at age 79. Bob & Bill had almost been inseparable until their marriages & had an unbelievable twin bond & inside jokes between themselves. Bob loved taking his Massey Harris '44 to tractor shows, going to Branson, Missouri & listening to country & Christian songs. Family jokingly renamed him Jim Bob (Walton's series) & later J R (Dallas series) in later years.
He is survived by his daughter Patricia A. White, beloved grandaughter Erika R Potratz & husband Benjamin, 6 great-grandchildren, Jesalyn, Parker, Dawson, Ledger, Gentry & Sutton all of Lincoln, IL. Also surviving are niece Karen Ellis Smith, nephew John Ellis (Sandy), and their children. Also, cousins Mark Jones and Wilena Fuch. Bob was also preceded in death by Imogene (Snowden) Ellis whom he married in 1995, his twin Bill & wife Jean Ellis.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday August 6, 2025 at the Oakwood Cemetery with Rev. Jim Eddy officiating. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Lincoln Christian Church or to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Dodsworth-Piper-Wallen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Please sign the guestbook and leave condolences at www.dodsworthfh.com
