Ellen Whitcomb, 71, of Moline, died Sunday, August 19, 2018, surrounded by her family and pastor at her side, at Illini Restorative Care, Silvis.

A Memorial service directed by the family, will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, August 23, 2018, at Salem Lutheran Church, 1724 15th St., Moline.  Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m., Wednesday, at Salem.  Cremation rites have been accorded and memorials may be made to Salem Lutheran Church.  Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., is assisting the family.

Ellen was born on July 28, 1947, in Moline, the daughter of F. Allyn and Janette (Hjerpe) Gottsche.  She married Jon Whitcomb on March 12, 1966, at Salem in Moline.

Ellen loved to be around people, whether drinking coffee with her friends, or teaching Sunday School at Salem Lutheran Church, where she was a Children and Family Minister.  She and her husband did most everything together, including camping in their trailer, going on long rides in their convertible, and swing dancing (after Ellen gave Jon lessons).  She loved to knit, read, play card games like canasta and bunco, and enjoyed the flowers in her garden.  While traveling, Ellen liked to listen to books on tape and view the beautiful fall colors, and one of her favorite trips was to Mesa Verde National Park.  She loved visiting Colorado to enjoy nature.  Ellen was a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother to not only her immediate family, but to many of her friends’ children.  She loved all her dogs, especially their lab, DD. 

Survivors her husband of 52 years whom she adored (and he adored her too), Jon; children, John (Deborah) Whitcomb of Longmont, CO, Christine Gernant of East Moline, and Jannette Whitcomb of Carbondale, CO; grandchildren, Harrison, Stephan, Madeline, and Ben; great grandchildren, Tristan, Aidyn, Evelyn, and Leilani Rayne; brother, John Gottsche of East Moline.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

https://www.esterdahl.com/notices/Ellen-Whitcomb