Rachel Ellison

Rachel Ellison, 70 of Council Bluffs, IA, passed away Sunday, March 8, 2026 at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 16, 2026 at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Malvern, IA. Burial will be in the Malvern Cemetery. Visitation at the funeral home will be held one hour prior to the service with family greeting friends at 9:00 a.m. Loess Hills Funeral Home in Malvern is caring for Rachel and her family.

Memorials: Family will direct memorials to the MS Society

OBITUARY
Rachel Andre (Mallas) Ellison was born on July 27, 1955 in Kansas City, Missouri. She was the oldest of two daughters to John Henry and Virginia Katherine (Nations) Mallas. As the daughter of a Coast Guard officer, Rachel spent her formative years in a state of constant motion, relocating every 2-3 years. She lived in Covina, CA, Cherry Hill, NJ; Paradise Valley, AZ; San Jose, CA, and Perry, IA. While Rachel would often speak of the difficulty of always being the ‘new kid’ moving around so much as a child, those frequent transitions cultivated in her a remarkable resilience. Of all the places she lived, she would always say Arizona was her favorite. Seeking refuge from the intense Arizona heat, Rachel and her family would frequent private pools, which became a place of leisure and refreshment. Rachel would always talk about picking up the passion for swimming from her father, who would often join them when he wasn’t working and teach them all about swimming. Rachel would always share that her father was an avid swimmer during high school and while in the Coast Guard. Her mother would also take them horseback riding, which she loved. Rachel would also recount riding around in her mother’s black 1965 Mustang going for desert cruises and stopping for ice cream. Rachel would always say that she had to be careful getting into it after a day of swimming. Arizona sun, black leather seats and swimsuits don’t mix.
Rachel would spend her teen years in Perry, Iowa. She would always say she was a rebellious teen, and enjoyed bell bottom jeans, suede fringed vests, long hair and 1970’s rock. Rachel would tell a story of when she purchased the new record and was playing it a bit too loud, which triggered her father. He would always tell her to turn that garbage down and ask her why she thought that was “music”.
Rachel also swam for Perry’s local swimming team. She swam freestyle and individual medley (all four styles: back stroke, breast stroke, butterfly, and freestyle in one race). Both Rachel and Becky were on the swim team. Rachel claims they weren't good swimmers but they had a lot of fun. She also was on Perry High’s track team, where she ran 220 and 440 yard races.
Her father got Rachel her first job in the early 1970's working for the Iowa Department of Transportation correcting rejected driver's licenses in the computer. She wasn't a fan of this job as it was very, very, very boring! It was during this time she also learned to drive. Rachel would always say her father was a very patient person, as he taught her to drive in downtown Des Moines rush hour traffic in a manual Ford Pinto. Her favorite job was running a summer recreation day camp for kids in Perry, Iowa. Through this job she discovered her true calling and it ignited her passion for working with children and ultimately guided her towards a fulfilling career in elementary education.
Rachel graduated from Perry High School in Perry, IA in 1974. After high school, Rachel's father wanted her to go to Northwest Missouri State College University in Maryville to seek higher education. She enrolled there in the fall of 1974 even though some of her teachers advised against it. Rachel’s father never doubted her capabilities and was always her biggest supporter. She would always say his encouragement kept her motivated. Rachel graduated with a bachelor's degree from NWMSU in 1978 in elementary education with a special education major. She was licensed to work with children K-12 in Missouri and certified K-8 in Iowa. Rachel dedicated 27 years to the classroom pouring her heart into the lives of her students. She served her first five years teaching 2nd grade at Chantry Elementary in Malvern, Iowa and then taught special education for seven years in Malvern followed with 15 years at Glenwood Community School District, where she retired as a 1st grade reading recovery teacher.
Rachel met her husband John Charles Ellison shortly after moving to Malvern. They met in 1979 during a barn party and started dating shortly afterwards. After dating for a year or so, Rachel was contemplating getting her Master’s in counseling from Iowa State University. John didn’t want her to move away, so he bought her a ring and the rest is history. Rachel and John were united in marriage on January 2, 1982 at the Malvern United Methodist Church in Malvern, IA. It was here where they purchased their first house together from John’s grandmother.
On June 6, 1985 they welcomed their first child, Zachary John. Rachel greatly enjoyed being a mother. She was very organized and deeply devoted to his care and she loved to snuggle and read to him every day. On May 23, 1988 they welcomed their second child, Shelby Andra. Rachel always wanted a son and daughter. Shelby completed the family as Rachel would always say. With their family growing to four, Rachel and John set out to find a home with more room to flourish. They ultimately found their perfect setting in Council Bluffs. In 1990, they poured their hearts into a complete remodel, truly making the house their own before moving in. It became the backdrop for a lifetime of laughter and the place where countless cherished memories were made. Holidays and birthdays were where Rachel’s spirit truly shone. She took great pride in hand-decorating custom birthday cakes for Zac and Shelby, a labor of love that became a hallmark of their childhoods. Her creativity extended to the rest of the house as well; for every holiday, the home was transformed with unique decorations and crafts she had lovingly made by hand. Fall was Rachel’s favorite time of year, especially Halloween. She loved carving pumpkins and dressing Zac and Shelby up! Rachel also enjoyed baking. She would always make tons of Christmas cookies every year and loved to decorate them with her children.
Rachel was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1990 and endured it with quiet dignity, strength and unwavering faith.
Some of Rachel’s favorite hobbies were sewing, quilting, baking, camping and photography- especially flowers and birds. Rachel was always working on sewing projects for her family. She has made numerous quilts, blankets and embroidery projects over the years. Rachel and John also owned multiple campers over the years and enjoyed taking their family camping, especially in Colorado. Some of her favorite memories with her family were camping. Even when mobility challenges arose, she continued to persevere allowing her to experience the things that brought her joy. Rachel also loved her French Bulldogs, especially Moxie.
The year 2011 marked the beginning of a beautiful new chapter as Rachel received the cherished title, Grandma, and was blessed with her first grandchild. Over the years that followed, her family grew to include four grandchildren which she adored beyond measure. She always loved holding and spoiling them. As sewing was a passion of hers, she would regularly make her grandchildren blankets, quilts and various hand made decorations. To this day, her blankets are a staple on every bed. Some favorite memories include spring break with Grandma, where she would have the entire week planned out with crafts, games, puzzles, baking, and field trips, with the Omaha Zoo being a favorite. She also took this opportunity to practice her teaching skills with them, helping them sharpen their abilities, and making learning feel like the greatest adventure of all. She took immense pride in watching them grow, and her legacy of kindness, creativity, and resilience will live on through each of them.
Rachel was welcomed into the Lord’s arms on March 8, 2026 at the age of 70. She was preceded in death by her parents John and Virgina Mallas; parents-in-law Charles and Joan Ellison; sister-in-law Claudia Ellison; and her lifelong best friend Karen Hansen.
Rachel is survived by her beloved husband of 44 years, John Ellison of Council Bluffs; son Zachary (Jennifer) Ellison of Johnston, IA; daughter Shelby (Trevor Asmann) Ellison of Papillion, NE; grandsons, Brayton, Jamison, and Grayson; granddaughter Harper; sister Rebecca (Jon) Emmert of AZ; step-mother, Marilyn Lawshe of Grimes, IA; brothers-in-law and sisters in-law, Jeff (Beverly) Ellison of Calbot, AR, Chris (Jeff) Fierke of Springfield, MO, and Mike (Kate) Ellison of Yukon, OK; several nieces and nephews; other relatives; and many special friends.