May 12, 2021
Ellen L. Harbaugh passed away peacefully, as the sun was setting on May 9, 2021 at the age of 77.
Ellen was born in Belleville, IL on December 17, 1943 to Henry and Veranda Stork. She graduated with honors and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Southern Illinois University, and attended graduate school at Kansas State University. She worked at Little Grassy Lake, near Carbondale, IL in the early 60’s, and helped to establish a day camp held at Camp Wartburg sponsored by the Monroe County Council for the Handicapped.
She married Daniel Harbaugh on June 25th, 1966. She taught elementary school for a year in Waterloo, IL and 4 years in Manhattan, KS before making their home in Marshalltown, Iowa in 1971, where she taught kindergarten and reading for the Marshalltown Area Catholic Schools. After teaching there for 23 years, she retired for health reasons. However, she found other ways to impact students. She continued to tutor following her retirement, and was most affectionately known as “The Book Lady.”