Stonerook, Ellis 'Sonny' Shelly

Funeral services for Ellis “Sonny” Shelly Stonerook, 79, of Tipton, who died Friday, May 18, 2012, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 23, at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton, with the Rev. Arnold Schaper officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the Tipton Masonic Cemetery.

Ellis was born July 30, 1932, on the family farm south of Clarence, son of Clarence Shelly and Lola Beatrice Easterly Stonerook. He attended Harmony Point Country School and graduated from Clarence High School in 1949.

On June 27, 1954, he married Marjorie Penningroth in Clarence. They farmed until 1972, when they moved to Clarence, where he established Clarence Plumbing & Heating. In 1997, he retired and they moved to Tipton.

He belonged to the Tipton Pistol Club, Masonic Lodge, El Kahir Drum & Bugle Corps and Jones County Mini Patrol. He served on the Clarence and Tipton city councils, Tipton Moose Lodge and Clarence Jaycees. He enjoyed playing cards, golfing, boating, woodworking and helping his children with many projects.

Survivors include his wife, Marjorie Stonerook; daughters, Jean Ann Stonerook of Cedar Rapids and Karen Louise (Al) Campbell of Cedar Rapids; sons, Dana Allen (Teri) Stonerook of Plymouth, Mich., and Gary Lee Stonerook of Rochester, Iowa; and grandchildren, Nicholas Stonerook Abigail Stonerook, Curtis Stonerook and Emily (Nathan) Cahill.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and sisters, Sarah Jane Higgins and Mary Alice Williams.

Online condolences and photos may be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com.

A memorial has been established in his memory.

A special thanks to St. Luke's Hospice in Cedar Rapids.

Published May 20, 2012 in The Gazette