Pastor Ernest Charles Elzey, 78, of Cedar Falls and formerly of La Porte City, died Saturday, May 3, 2025, at MercyOne Medical Center in Waterloo.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 8, at White Funeral Home in Jesup with burial following at 3 p.m. at Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Ottumwa. Memorials will be directed to Zion Lutheran Church – Jubilee of rural La Porte City and to Cedar Valley Hospice House in Waterloo. Online condolences may be posted at www.White-MtHope.com
Pastor Elzey was born Apr. 25, 1947, in Stuttgart, AR, the eldest son of Elmer Cecil and Louise Marie (Peterson) Elzey. The family lived in several communities during his youth as his father pastored to churches. He graduated from Roanoke-Benson High School in Roanoke, IL, with the Class of 1965, and then attended Texas Lutheran College, Sequin, TX, where he graduated in 1970. He then graduated from Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, OH, in 1974. While in Columbus, he interned at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Napolean, OH, from 1972-1973. Pastor Elzey was ordained by his father Pastor Elmer Elzey in 1974. He then became pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kellogg and St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Sully from 1974-1979. From 1979-1983, he served Trinity Lutheran Church in South Milwaukee, WI, and then at Central Lutheran Church, Edgerton, WI, from 1984-1986. He did interim pastoring until his next call to First Augustana Lutheran Church in Lockridge from 1989-1994, then at Accession Lutheran Church in Goose Lake from 1994-1997. In 1999, Pastor Elzey became pastor at Zion Lutheran Church – Jubilee, rural La Porte City, until 2011, when he retired after 36 active years in ministry.
Pastor Elzey was united in marriage to Karen Janeen (Jurgersen) Kane on June 27, 1998, at Chancy Lutheran Church, Clinton. She preceded him in death in 2009.
Pastor Elzey is survived by two brothers Paul (Ruth) Elzey of Sully and John (Margaret) Elzey of Cornell, IL; two stepchildren Kendall (Heather) Kane of Jesup and Kayla (Craig) Bresson of Waterloo; four stepgrandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife Karen, his parents, one sister and brother-in-law Rebecca and Archie Mangold, and one nephew Archie Mangold preceded him in death.
