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Ellen Catherine Burke was born Oct. 4, 1944, in Omaha, to her parents, Charles Patrick Burke and Genevieve Irene (O'Hern) Burke. She joined her older sister, Rosemary, in the same South Omaha home that her paternal grandparents lived in. She attended St. Mary's Catholic grade school and then attended and graduated from Archbishop Ryan High School in 1962. She wanted to go to Omaha South High School like her father, her sister, and many of her friends, but her parents insisted on sending her to the recently-opened Catholic high school in South Omaha.

After graduating from high school and taking a short business course, Ellen joined the workforce, working in a few different offices, including Central National Insurance Company and Physicians Mutual in Omaha. It was there she met several women who would become her lifelong friends.

She married Gary Echtenkamp on Oct. 22, 1966, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in South Omaha. They made their home in Elkhorn. Gary passed away on Sept. 28, 1970, from Hodgkin's Disease. Ellen continued to live in the house on Mary Street in Elkhorn after his death.

A young Elkhorn-area farmer, Roger Quinn, inquired about purchasing Gary's car, a 1966 Ford Galaxy 500, with a manual transmission, which Ellen could not drive. Roger bought the car and then later asked for a date. They married on Jan. 6, 1973, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Elkhorn. And she got the Ford back again, which she could not drive.

The couple was blessed with their first child, a son, Russell William, on Jan. 15, 1974. A daughter, Kolleen Kaye, joined the family on Jan. 28, 1977, and the family was completed with another daughter, Maureen Megan, born on Sept. 15, 1979.

Ellen owned an in-home daycare, beginning in 1981. She operated Ellen's Daycare for 35 years and cared for literally hundreds of children all over the area. Ellen was extremely proud of her Irish ancestry. She was 100% Irish and decorated her home with various Irish items. Roger and Ellen even took a trip to Ireland in 2005.

She bowled on Monday evenings in a women's league in Elkhorn for several decades with another group of women who would also become her lifelong friends. Ellen was also a wonderful baker - people often requested her famous chocolate chip cookies. She also loved taking care of a back deck full of plants and flowers.

She was active in her church of St. Patrick's. She baked goodies for the popular Bingo nights many years ago and more recently sang in the church choir. Ellen insisted the family always attend Mass - it didn't matter where they were. Even on vacations, a Catholic Church had to be found.

In later years, she enjoyed attending her grandchildren's various events. While vision and cognitive issues slowed her down, she did still enjoy spending time with family and friends.

Ellen passed away on Jan. 29, 2022, in Omaha, after battling Ahlzeimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, parents, and sister. She is survived by husband, Roger, of Elkhorn; son Russ (Tracie) of rural Herman; daughter Kolleen (Nick) Benjamin of Omaha, and daughter Maureen of Omaha. She is also survived by five grandchildren (Kyle, Burke and Ella Quinn; Quinn and Brock Benjamin), brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends. She will be profoundly missed by her family and friends.

Visitation and Rosary took place on Feb. 3, 2022, at Reichmuth Funeral Home in Elkhorn

Funeral Mass will take place on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, at St. Patrick's Church in Elkhorn

Interment at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

#2 Printed in the February 2, 2022 Omaha World-Herald

Quinn, Ellen Catherine

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October 4, 1944 - January 29, 2022

Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, Patrick and Genevive Burke; sister, Rosemary (Vern) Clark; and first husband, Gary Echtenkamp. She is survived by husband, Roger Quinn; children: Russell (Tracie) Quinn, Kolleen (Nick) Benjamin, and Maureen Quinn; grandchildren: Kyle, Burke, and Ella Quinn and Quinn and Brock Benjamin.

VISITATION: 4-7pm Thursday, February 3rd, at Reichmuth Funeral home, with Rosary beginning at 7pm. FUNERAL MASS: 10:30am Friday, February 4th, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Elkhorn. Interment: Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Elkhorn Historical Society, St. Patrick's, or the Alzheimer's Association.

REICHMUTH FUNERAL HOME 21901 West Maple | (402) 289-2222

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

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