Ellen M. Trobaugh

Ellen Marcella Miller McCloud Trobaugh who recently celebrated her 100^th birthday has passed from this earth into heaven on May 7, 2022, at her residence at Heritage Northern Hills in Sioux City, IA where she has lived for the past 6 years.

Graveside Services will be held Monday May 16, 11:00 am at Memorial Park Cemetery with Pastor James Travis officiating. Visitation will be held Monday May 16, 2022 at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. with a prayer service following. A Luncheon will be at Calvary Lutheran Church reception hall following the burial service, and all are welcome.

Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel: 3220 Stone Park Blvd., Sioux City, Iowa 51104

Memorial Park Cemetery: 6605 Morningside Ave, Sioux City, IA 51106

Calvary Lutheran Church: 4400 Central St, Sioux City, IA 51108

Ellen was born at the family home on April 3, 1922, in Hartington Nebraska, the daughter of Lucy and Alfred Miller. In 1927 at age 5 Ellen and her family moved to the Kansas homestead by train but only to be stymied by the Kansas dust bowl of 1930. The family moved back to the Hartington homestead. Ellen remained on the family farm until the age of 14 years when she moved with her older sister Lucille to Chicago where she attended school and worked.

Ellen returned to Hartington at the age of 18 years to help on the farm and took work as a waitress at a local restaurant. Don’s brother Jim thought Ellen was a catch and mentioned to Don that he better go down to the restaurant and check her out. With his best black suit and tie, he walked straight to Ellen and introduced himself Don “Storky” McCloud, then he asked her to go to a movie. The next day Ellen received a letter in the mail from Don that said, “let’s get married”, not long after that they did make plans for marriage just as WWII broke out. 

Don who was active in the National Guard was called into active duty and immediately deployed to Little Rock Arkansas for his orders. Ellen followed a day or so later and Don and Ellen were married by the Army Chaplain just before Don boarded the train for San Francisco along with a multitude of Midwest servicemen.

Ellen followed Don to San Francisco and was able to see him briefly before his deployment overseas and too proud to ask Don’s father for money to come back to Nebraska, she decided to look for work and stay in San Francisco. Ellen found work as a live-in nanny (401 Pacheco - she never forgot this address!) with a beautiful Jewish family that took great care of young Ellen and in turn, she watched their children and did housework and cooked for the family.

Following the war Don and Ellen settled in Sioux City Iowa to raise their 7 children. After the baby years Ellen worked as a nanny again for the Bernstein and Hurwitz families and by this time, she could make Matzo Ball Soup as good as any Jewish family. In 1979 after 38 years of marriage and Don’s death, Ellen had a substantial grieving period, then typical of Ellen she gathered her strength and purpose and made a spiritual pilgrimage to Israel fulfilling a dream that she and Don had always wanted to do together. 

Ellen was eventually hired by Morey’s-Raymond’s Men’s Clothing Store as a tailor for several years, then moved to JC Penny to be their seamstress / tailor where she earned her retirement.

In Ellen’s retirement years she could be seen daily keeping watch over Summit Street from her front porch glider, she made occasional trips to see her out of town family, but really looked forward to the family gatherings at home during the holidays. To say that Mom prepared for her guests ahead of time would be an understatement, Mom was always good to turn on the electric blanket months in advance of her guest’s arrival just to be sure they were comfortable, and she would set the dining room and cover with plastic just waiting for the guests to arrive. 

Ellen prepared pies and amazing multi-course meals and put them in the deep freezer just waiting for the big day, she always had enough food for everyone while at home and even more for travel meals as they left. The loving servant Ellen always took care of everyone first then ate last… 

Ellen was loved by so many; she witnessed the love of Jesus to everyone she met (we lost count after 40 years) and one day she will welcome them all home as well. 

Ellen / Mom left us with so many memories and funny stories that we will treasure and hand down for lifetimes to come.

Ellen was preceded in death by her husbands; Don J. McCloud and Chester Trobaugh, one son, Gregory McCloud, her parents Alfred J. Miller & Lucy A. Johns Miller, her sisters Lucille O’Connor, Jeanette Constable, Geraldine Penosa, and brothers Donald Miller, John Miller, Ben Miller, Buck Miller, Joe Miller, and her son in-law Wendell Herndon and her Grandson Greg Herndon.

Ellen is survived by her children Robert McCloud and wife Carol, Dennis McCloud, Reginald McCloud and wife Susan, Diane Cartwright, Mary Herndon, and Mark McCloud and wife Adona. 

Ellen has been blessed with 7 children, 14 Grandchildren and 28 Great-Grandchildren and 4 Great-Great Grandchildren