Ellen Diane (Kirkes) Politzer

Ellen Diane Politzer, 71, of Troy Twp, passed away on September 20, 2017 at Burton Health Care & Rehabilitation Center surrounded by her loving family.

Ellen was born on August 5, 1946 in Cleveland, Ohio, to Jack and Helen Kirkes. Her early years were spent in California and Pennsylvania before settling in Ohio where she lived with her husband Bruce and raised two children.

Throughout her life Ellen revealed a wealth of talents and developed a lifelong love of horses. She was an accomplished marksman with several state championships to her credit as well as numerous medals attesting to her expert status. She retained her extraordinary aptitude with weapons and her knack seemed to apply to any weapon she picked up. She and Bruce went on a cruise for their honeymoon and she easily won the skeet shooting contest held off the stern of the cruise ship. Ellen and Bruce shared a mutual interest in firearms which both Jason and Jenn seemed to have developed also.

Later in life Ellen combined two of her passions, horses and marksmanship, and became a ‘cowboy mounted shooter’ with the Lake Erie Mounted Vaqueros, competing as often as she could on her talented mount Sitarra.

Ellen gave freely of herself, helping others and the community. She was a medic by profession, having worked for both ambulance services and in the emergency room at the local hospital, until retirement. She was a volunteer medic and firefighter with her local fire department. This was another pursuit shared with her husband. Many times they were the medics on scene or transporting a patient, trying to save lives. In the last few years Ellen loved time spent with her young granddaughter Gabrielle who seems to have inherited the love of horses from her Mother and grandmother.

Ellen was very gifted artistically and in many different mediums; paint, leather, wood, beads, jewelry, yarn, sewing among others. When she had time to cook the results were always appreciated. Many of her efforts were gifts treasured by the recipients.

Ellen is survived by her husband of 28 years, Bruce Politzer, daughter, Jennifer Politzer and granddaughter Gabrielle of Burton, Ohio, her son Jason (Aimee) Gaenzle of Inez, TX., her mother-in-law Catherine Politzer, Burton, Ohio, sisters-in-law Judith Politzer & Susan Mullett both of Burton, brothers-in-law Eric (Qinghuan) Politzer of Brooklyn, NY, Brent Politzer & Tom (Dawn) Politzer, also of Burton, niece Erin Politzer, Portland, OR, nephews Justin & Matthew Politzer, Burton, Ohio and her stepmother, Marie Kirkes, Ventura, Ca.

Please join us for a celebration of Ellen's life with memories, stories, laughter and tears to be held on Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at North Bloomfield Assembly of God, 2079 Kinsman Road NW, North Bloomfield, Oh 44450 beginning at 5PM, service at 6PM with dinner to follow. In lieu of flowers please bring memories and prayers.