Elisheva "Ellie" Joy Havlik passed away Tuesday May 7th, 2024 in Fargo, North Dakota. She was just 30 years old.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am, Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. Interment will be at Hickory Grove Cemetery northwest of Grinnell.

The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 9:30 am.

Memorials may be designated to Ellie's family (please write checks to her sister, Katie Havlik) and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home and Crematory, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Ellie's family online at www.smithfh.com.

Ellie was born in Colorado on September 25th, 1993, the fourth born of nine siblings. Before Klara came along in September of 1995, Ellie showed her first signs of being a fashionista at Klara's baby shower. Ellie was gifted a new dress and hat she tried on and stole the show walking around with a self-confident little stride. Ellie and Klara were nicknamed "The Little Sisters", a term of endearment used as they were always together singing, playing games, and sharing clothes.

In December of 1995, Ellie's family moved to Lovilia, Iowa. In Spring, Ellie enjoyed helping in the garden, attending farmers markets with her family, exploring nature, being active, learning, music, art and caring for animals. She also enjoyed cutting her own hair and happily rocked a mullet for about three years. Ellie enthusiastically helped welcome more little siblings into the world and was a proud, protective, loving, and generous big sister.

From a youthful age Ellie showed signs of determination, bravery, and strength. When Ellie was 7 years old, she once made two goals: first, learning how to count to 1,000 perfectly, second, breaking her oldest brother Andrew's record in doing jump rope. She broke his record while counting the numbers aloud to 1,000 with her siblings watching in amazement and sending up loud cheers and running in excitement when she achieved both goals. Details of this particular family legend might be argued, some believe it must have been jumping jacks. But does it matter? Still incredible and the jubilation was undeniable. And then there was the hula hoop contest at a 50's concert intermission where they had to ask Ellie to stop hula hooping so the band could play again.

As a 10-year-old in Knoxville, Iowa, Ellie asked her big sister Katie to borrow a pair of roller blades. Ellie twirled and jumped and dreamed of ice skating. By the age of 12, Ellie demonstrated her fearlessness at the Knoxville, IA Skate Park, shredding and jumping ramps in aggressive skates. In just one week, Ellie was sailing up and landing as light as a bird from flight on the 8-foot ramp at the park, her then long blond hair flying and her smile bright. Ellie had no problem keeping up alongside her big brother Abe on his BMX bike, and they spent countless hours together bonding over their hobby. Together Abe and Ellie inspired their younger brothers Elijah and Kolson to join in the extreme sports they enjoyed so much.

Ellie was extremely talented and brilliant; she attended Grinnell High School and achieved good grades. She also took extra dual credit classes at Iowa Valley Community College and took first seat on the Grinnell Tigers tennis team! When Ellie was a junior in high school she sat next to her big sister Katie in psychology class at Iowa Valley. The professor once asked Ellie, "What do you think one of your strengths are?" She replied, "I'm determined." Katie knew this was true because Ellie never gave up on anything and her determination continued throughout her life, with every challenge, Ellie never backed down. Ellie graduated GHS with honors and was awarded scholarships. This with special thanks to her high school counselor, Mrs. Allen, who Ellie admired and loved so much.

Ellie shared a passion for art with her family and could use any medium to create something beautiful. A specialty was intricately woven jewelry with beads that Ellie began making from learning just one crochet stitch from an elderly lady who Ellie helped garden. Ellie's jewelry pieces became more and more intricate and complex, reflecting her natural eye for patterns and applied math.

Ellie continued her education beginning at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, IA. In May of 2016 Ellie received her Bachelor of Science degree at Iowa State University studying Psychology, with a minor in Economics. Her choice of Psychology was informed by an Indian Hills professor noting her natural ability to relate to people. Ellie also became fascinated with statistics, taking classes that required advanced math. Additionally, Ellie worked on curriculum that ISU implemented called, 'Parenting, It's a Life'. Ellie had a 3.72 GPA and was an Alvah Ray Lauer Award recipient. The award was based not only on her academic achievement, but her internship roles, and she was nominated by her favorite professor/mentor. But Ellie didn't really care if she attended her ISU graduation because her sites were already set on her Master's Degree. She went to the graduation for us but enjoyed the queso and Mexican food afterwards more. Ellie then attended The University of Northern Iowa in December of 2018 where she studied Psychology with an emphasis in Clinical Science to employ her love for statistics. Ellie's Master's Thesis was a study on cortisol's role in resiliency. Ellie graduated with a 3.86 GPA and received her Master of Arts degree. That graduation she had reached a true goal and savored every second.

In all this, Ellie was of course an amazing role model for her youngest sister Emma who proudly attended many award ceremonies and dinners, whether Ellie was honored for excelling at tennis or her academic achievements.

Ellie moved to Milwaukee to begin her career at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Ellie dedicated extra-long hours working on salary doing cognitive testing for her patients, and she always went beyond what was required of her. Ellie made sure her patients had the highest level of care for several years. She often said, "I just want to help people."

Ellie would do anything for her family. When her sister Angel was 18, she invited her to live in Milwaukee where they spent 2 years together, with Ellie providing loving support. Ellie made one of Angel's dreams come true by attending a concert in Chicago: Angel's favorite K-pop band called BTS.

Ellie also took another opportunity to achieve her younger brother Elijah's dream of cheering on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers football team in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Ellie was always down to join in whatever hobby or adventure Abe pursued, really just to spend quality time with him. Ellie spent long weekends on camping adventures with Abe, fishing and exploring nature. On one of their adventures, they caught their first big flathead fish weighing almost 30 pounds! (The details of this fish story are irrefutable. Photo evidence.) Ellie was a legit fisherman and not afraid of the mud.

Ellie was an excellent cook but because of her busy schedule she often ordered Door Dash with extra for her beloved Miniature Sheltie named Tank. Ellie could also often be found teaching pets to be friends, talking in her pet voice.

Ellie was incredibly happy to become an aunt when her eldest nephew, Ben, was born in the fall of 2016, the son of Abe and Rachel. In Milwaukee, Ellie also enjoyed spending time on weekends with Katie's sons Jacob and Jordan. Ellie had a special connection with children and wanted to start a family of her own and foster children one day.

There are no words to describe how dearly Ellie will be missed. She was a daughter, granddaughter, niece, aunt, friend, sister and dog mom who radiated light and joy into the world with her contagious smile and green eyes. She was incredibly beautiful inside and out. Her passion was to help people. She was defined by making a difference, by forging through difficulties, and that shines on into eternity with her sharing her prayers, her fight, a tender forgiveness, faith in God and love for others.

For no apparent reason, every so often, Ellie would sing a line of conversation. Life was her stage. And she made it a musical.

Ellie passed away on Tuesday May 7, 2024. She was just 30 years old. She was preceded in death by her youngest brother, Kolson in 2022; best friend, Candelyn; grandmother, Violet Rogers; great-grandmother, Edith Sparks; grandfather, Karl Havlik; and grandmother, Paula Rogers.

Ellie is survived by her mother, Tammy; father, Joe; brothers and sisters, Andrew, Katie, Abe, Klara, Elijah, Angel and Emma; grandfather, John Rogers; and her beloved aunts and uncles.