Ellsworth was born April 21, 1915, to the late John and Amanda Gerndt in the Town of How, Oconto County. He was united in marriage to Lorraine Schuettpelz on August 21, 1940, at St. John Lutheran Church in Hayes.
A life-long farmer in Suring, he remained active in agriculture, conservation and community affairs until his illness. He started the Iron Bridge Farms, one of the top dairy herds in the State of Wisconsin. A long time director of the Oconto County Holstein Breeders Association, he was awarded the Distinguished Holstein Breeder award. Ellsworth was one of the founders of the Oconto County Dairy Promotion events and an officer of the American Farm Bureau of Oconto County and its legislative affairs representative for many years.
A strong advocate for conservation, he was the recipient of numerous soil conservation awards and his farm was the site of many community visits and demonstrations showing the latest innovations in agriculture and conservation.
Ellsworth served as 4-H leader for fifteen years and was president of the 4-H Leader Association. He also received the FFA Chapter Farmer award for his work with youth.
A life-long member of the Republican party, he served as a delegate for twenty years. He and Lorraine were active members of the National League of Families for Prisoners of War. He was a trustee and served on various committees at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Suring where he had been a member for over forty years.
Ellsworth was selected for the Who's Who of American Agriculture and he received the Outstanding Senior Citizen Award for the Suring Area sponsored by the Civic Club.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Lorraine, Suring; three sons, Gerald (Donna) Gerndt, Town of Genesee, Waukesha County, WI; Donald (Jane) Gerndt, DeForest, WI; Dennis (Jean) Gerndt, Suring, WI; eight grandchildren; one brother, John (Betty) Gerndt, Jr. of Townsend, WI; one sister, Eva Roe of Ocala, FL.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Roger, and one sister, Elsie.
Visitation was at Gruetzmacher Funeral Home in Suring. Funeral services were held 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 8, 2000 at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Suring with the Rev. Russell Kampfer officiating. Burial in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.