On Saturday January 28, 2023, a very dear friend Ellen Tress passed away and into the arms of Jesus. Ellen was 82 years old.

She was born in Glasgow, Scotland on October 15, 1940, to Allan Rooney and Ellen (Dunn) Rooney.

As a young adult Ellen moved to London under the watchful eye of her brother John and gained employment as a Dictaphone typist. During this period, she met her first husband Gary Gehrke a general's aide in the US army which eventually moved her across the ocean to Washington DC. Ellen came to live with Gary's family in Wisconsin while he went to serve in the war in Vietnam where he was killed by hostile fire. She then moved to Wausau and met and married Bradley Tress and became mom to his two children Wanda and Kurt whom all have preceded her in death along with her infant daughter from her previous marriage.

Ellen was a worker. She enjoyed work and appreciated a job well done. She worked at Marathon Electric for 25 years and retired from there. She worked at various other places before and after Marathon Electric, JC Penny's the hospital, Fiskars's just to name a few.

Ellen's life was not an easy one but because of her faith in Jesus she was strong. God gave her a sense of humor and an awesome smile. Even through the heartbreak and physical pain she would give you that smile and make you feel all was good even sometimes misleadingly. She loved her travels, especially later in life to Laughlin. She was a very private person, loyal to those she loved and generous in life.

As one of the doctors so rightfully put it, "She was a smart independent woman."

We should remind ourselves that while this is the end of Ellen's physical life on Earth, it's the beginning of an eternal and beautiful journey for her where she joins her departed family in Heaven. She is survived by many friends.

Services will be held at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 600 Stevens Dr., Wausau, on Thursday, February 2, 2023, with visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at 11:00 and then taken to her final rest place at Restlawn Cemetery.

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good blessed is the man who take refuge in him. Psalm 34:8

John J. Buettgen Funeral Home is assisting family at this time. Online condolences may be expressed at HonorOne.com