Tom Ellis, age 84 of Grinnell, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 of natural causes. A public visitation will be held prior to his service from 9:00 am until 10:00 am on Saturday, January 16, 2021 at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. A public funeral service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with Pastor John Epperson officiating. A face mask will be required for those attending the visitation and funeral service. Interment will be in Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. A reception will follow at the Eagles in Grinnell. Memorials may be designated to UnityPoint Grinnell Regional Hospice, mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Tom's family online at www.smithfh.com. Thomas Lee Ellis was born on April 10, 1936 in Chariton, Iowa to Clifford Thomas Ellis and Nina Marie (Stewart) Ellis. He was raised in Chariton and Grinnell, IA respectively, and graduated from Grinnell High School with the class of 1954. Tom was united in marriage to Ellen McGilvrey on April 4, 1970 at the First Friends Church in Scranton, IA. They raised their family in Grinnell and Tom was a longtime owner and operator of Ellis Concrete Construction in Grinnell. They were members of the Friends Church in Grinnell and Tom was a life-long Eagles member. Tom was known by many as one of the most meticulous and hard-working people around. He held a passion for restoring old cars and was very proud of his 1939 Ford Deluxe, which took first place at Grinnell Happy Days in 2003. His enjoyments included traveling to Arizona and Palm Springs, going to horse races in Phoenix, attending car shows, watching University of Iowa sports, Indy car races and the Daytona 500, and spending time with his family and friends. Tom is survived by his wife of 50 years, Ellen Ellis of Grinnell; his daughter, Laura (Dave) VanCompernolle of Grinnell; 3 stepchildren, George McGilvrey of Waterloo, IA, Debra McGilvrey of Grinnell, and Michael McGilvrey of Conroe, TX; many grandchildren and great grandchildren; and his brother, David Ellis of Orange, CA. He was preceded in death by his parents; and stepdaughter, Diana McGilvrey.