Clayton Sylvan Ellsworth

NORFOLK -- Funeral service for Clayton S. Ellsworth, 85, of Norfolk, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, January 16, 2025 at the Northern Heights Baptist Church in Norfolk. Officiating the service will be Pastor Jim Fleming. Interment will follow at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Norfolk. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 15 at the Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk. Military rites will be provided by the American Legion Post 16, V.F.W. Post 1644, of Norfolk and the United States Air Force Honor Guard. Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk is in charge of the arrangements. Clayton peacefully went to his eternal rest on Friday, January 10, 2025, at St. Joseph's Rehabilitation and Care Center in Norfolk, NE, after a lengthy illness. Blessed with a sharp mind up until the very end of his life, he was able to enjoy daily visits with his best friend and wife of 64 years, Barbara and many family members and friends. From the day he was admitted to Faith Regional Hospital in September, all the way through to his final days at St. Joseph’s Care Center, when a familiar face appeared at his door, he was able to put his suffering aside to be fully present with them. He genuinely loved and cared deeply about the people in his life. Clayton Sylvan Ellsworth was born on September 21, 1939, in Burchard, Nebraska to Sylvan and Lillie (Poland) Ellsworth. He graduated from Barneston High School in 1958. Upon graduation he went into the United States Air Force where he served four years as an aviation mechanic and was honorably discharged. On June 1, 1960, Clayton married Barbara Johnson at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Beatrice, Nebraska. Clayton’s career centered on his love for all things mechanical. From an early age he was curious about machines and how they worked. He learned auto mechanics in his father’s shop growing up. Upon discharge from the military worked for a short time as a heavy equipment mechanic in Beatrice, Nebraska. It wasn’t long and he expanded his horizons and headed west to work for the City of Alliance. After a short time, his love for mechanics led him to start his own auto repair business which later expanded into hydraulic repair. In 1969 he sold the business and moved his family to Billings, Montana where began his career in industrial parts and equipment sales. The following year he moved to Omaha to work for Nicholson Supply Company as an on the road salesman. He traveled across Wyoming, The Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa to develop new territory for the company. Always learning and solving problems for his customers, his inventive nature was born. While working with Tilden Fertilizer in Tilden, Nebraska, he was challenged to design and manufacture the first of its kind dry fertilizer blender that resulted in the first of his many patents. Saturday after Saturday, along with his son Guy, his first invention came to fruition. It was a masterful piece of equipment blending dry fertilizer with precision. Unfortunately, the cost of its development was prohibitive to its continual use in the market at large but because of its invention and development, EBM Corporation was born. The first building for the company was erected just off Hwy 275 in Tilden. With a focus on grain handling equipment maintenance and innovative solutions for the industry, the company began to grow and expand and in 1980 it was relocated to Norfolk, Nebraska, on Custer Avenue. In 1990 the company moved to its current location on Sherwood Road where it had plenty of room to expand into the four companies that exist today. EBM Manufacturing, EBM Construction, Pro Crane and Express Feed and Grain Parts, now operated by his son Guy and grandson Andrew, will exist as a testament to Clayton’s hard work and dedication for years to come. Clayton became a leader in the Grain and Feed industry where he enjoyed much success. Clayton was gifted with an ability to visualize a customer’s product moving through their equipment in a way very few were able to. This led him to work effortlessly to create a more precise way to remove impurities from grain when it was processed. After many seasons of trial and error his signature achievement, the Gentle Roll Cleaner was invented. As time went on the machine began to be sought after for removing impurities from other products such coffee, popcorn and pet foods. It is now in operation across the United States and many foreign countries. Clayton was well known as a leader in many agricultural industry trade associations, with honors from The Grain Elevator and Processing Society and the American Feed Industry Association awarded to him throughout his career. Clayton is survived by his wife Barbara Ellsworth of Norfolk, their two children Jane (Dean) Wedekind of Cedar Park, TX, and Guy (Carla) Ellsworth of Pierce, NE. Clayton is the grandfather of four grandchildren and twelve greatgrandchildren. The four grandchildren are grandson Stephen (Theresa) Wedekind and their children Bobby, AJ and Finn Wedekind, granddaughter Melissa (Brad) Dinkel and children Lexie, Logan, Max and Ava, granddaughter Hannah (Chad) O’Brien and Jayden, and grandson Andrew (Liz) Ellsworth and children Paisley, Clayton, Saylor and Walker. Clayton is also survived by his older sister Juanita Peters of Elk Creek, Nebraska and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Sylvan and Lillie Ellsworth, and his sister Oleta Haas. Throughout his lifetime Clayton enjoyed traveling the United States with Barbara. They were able to visit every state capitol building in the United States. As a licensed pilot, he thoroughly enjoyed flying his plane for business or pleasure whenever and wherever he could. Upon retirement the couple spent many winters in Yuma, Arizona, where Clayton loved traipsing through the desert with Barb and one of his white Eskimo spitz dogs Frosty or Tally. His greatest joy of all was spending time with his family. He was a devoted father, grandpa, great-grandpa and uncle. He filled their lives with an abundance of memories and a legacy of impeccable integrity. Casket bearers will be Paul Morfeld, Scott Stuhr, Brian Wilcox, Blake Mozer, Jeff Peters, and Dale Samuelson. Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.

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Clayton Sylvan Ellsworth

September 21, 1939 - January 10, 2025