Ivan Gerard McElhiney

HOFF FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICE, HOUSTON 507-896-3127Ivan Gerard McElhiney (82) passed away on December 2, 2014 at his home in La Crosse, Wis. Ivan was born on May 28, 1932, in Covington Kentucky, to Ivan Roger and Lucy (Spitz) McElhiney. He attended elementary school in Wadsworth, Ohio and high school in Nashville, Tennessee. While in his elementary school years, during WWII, Ivan worked hoeing people's victory gardens, setting pins in a bowling alley and washing dishes in a restaurant. In high school Ivan worked part time as an oven operator's helper at a Holsum Bakery and as a sausage maker's helper at a local slaughter house. Upon completion of high school in 1950, Ivan enlisted in the US Navy for a period of 4 years. After being discharged, he worked as an apprentice construction electrician but left this job after two years to return to Naval Service because, as he put it, he was homesick for his shipmates.During this second enlistment Ivan met his future wife, Lois Jean Evans. They were married on September 26, 1959, at the Evangelical United Brethren Church, in rural La Crescent. They have two sons, Sheldon C. (Teresa) of La Crescent, Minnesota, and Quintin L. (Christine) of La Crosse, Wisconsin. In all, Ivan served twenty one years in the Navy. Fourteen years of this in the submarine force, four years in the amphibious force and three years on the staff of the Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet. He had risen to the rank of Lieutenant Commander at the time of his retirement in 1972.After he retired from the Navy, Ivan tried his hand as an insurance salesman, communications systems technician, handyman, and hobby farmer. In 1979, Ivan suffered a serious heart attack and gave up strenuous labor to become a house husband. Over the next few years, his creative talents flourished as a cake decorator, stained glass artist, painter, and Master Gardener.As a member of South Ridge United Methodist Church, Ivan served his church on the administrative council for quite a few years, sometimes as chairman, secretary, or treasurer. He also led an adult bible study program and became a certified lay speaker, filling in for pastors at other churches and nursing homes when needed. He was a life member of the United States Submarine Veterans and served as Chaplain of the 125 member Minneapolis/Saint Paul Base. Additionally, he served as Treasurer for Mound Prairie Township, in Houston County, Minnesota.In recent years, Ivan became interested in the art of telling oral stories. He was a member of the Bluff Country Tale Spinners and volunteered as a story teller to both children and adults while they received chemotherapy at Gundersen Clinic and to children admitted as patients at Lutheran Hospital. He also served on the planning committee of the La Crosse Story Fest held in Myrick Park every year.Ivan was preceded in death by his parents, sister Ann Payne, and one niece. He is survived by his wife, his two sons, and four grandchildren Allison, Amanda, Quintin II, and McKaela; two sisters, Patricia O'Boyle and Margaret Rice (Jim Starrett), brother Jim (Judy), and fourteen nieces and nephews.Funeral service for Ivan will take place at South Ridge United Methodist Church, La Crescent, Minnesota on Saturday, December 6 at 11:00 a.m., Pastor Mark Bengtson officiating. Visitation will be at the Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service in Houston, Minn. on Friday, December 5, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and for one hour prior to the service at church.Interment will be in the McElhiney Family Cemetery in Tennessee City, Tennessee.Special thanks to: Dr. Thomas Retzinger (Winona); Jayne Laylan APNP (La Crosse); the Gundersen Health System physicians, nurses, and staff; and the Gundersen Hospice Team.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Gundersen Pediatrics Hematology/Oncology Clinic for use in purchasing gas cards to offset the cost of travel for the parents and caregivers of the children being treated there.
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/546651