Ellen was born the daughter of Edwin Russell and Doris Horn Russell on January 17, 1950, in Baxter, Iowa. She was raised in Baxter and graduated from the Baxter High School with the class of 1968. She was united in marriage to Robert Braaksma at the Ira Christian Church in Ira, Iowa on April 14, 1973. To this union was born their son Jon. The couple resided north of Toledo, Iowa before moving to Grinnell in 1974. Ellen was a certified medical aide at St. Francis Manor, Friendship Manor, and the Mayflower Community. Ellen had a great sense of humor and loved to sit and visit with her friends and family. She enjoyed a good cup of coffee in the morning, attending garage sales, collecting frog figurines, baking and decorating for the holidays. She has long anticipated the birth of her first grandchild who will be born in the next few months. Ellen is survived by her husband of 35 years, Robert Braaksma of Grinnell; her son, Jon (Karla) Braaksma of St. Peter, Minnesota; her brothers, Everett (Linda) Russell of Baxter, Donald Russell of Baxter; and her sisters, Millie Conger of West Point, IA, and Esther (Daryl) Grife of Newton. Ellen was preceded in death by her parents; and her sister, Rosemary Russell in 1965. Memorials may be directed to the Ellen M. Braaksma Memorial Fund, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.