Elladan L. McLeester

Elladan L. McLeester, age 67, died unexpectedly October 12, 2023 at her home in Madison Wisconsin. She is survived by her true love, Rob Meyer, and her brothers Dick (Malycha), Bruce (Christie) and Grant (Jan Sternbach) and numerous friends.

Elladan was always great with numbers. In her first job, at Burger King, she was always assigned to work the register and could calculate the costs and change in her head. Later, this led to her studying accounting at Arizona State University and becoming a Certified Public Accountant. She loved that work, especially the most complicated multi-state, multi-business tax returns. To her, the most daunting returns were just like a wonderful puzzle to be solved.

From her father, Bob, she got her love of botany. Like any good Wisconsinite, she would always plant a vegetable garden, but her passion was iris. With the help of Rob, she planted over 1200 iris varieties in her urban yard. She lovingly tracked their location and progress through Excel spreadsheets, donating thousands of rhizomes annually to the Madison Area Iris Society sale. She was past President and current Treasurer of the society. Additionally, she was Treasurer of two national iris associations, the Tall Bearded Iris Society and the Reblooming Iris Society. In the last few years, she had started hybridizing and had developed some promising seedlings.

She, like her dad and brothers, was an enthusiastic and talented photographer. Her iris photos were widely recognized as exquisite.

From her mother, Carol, she got a love of cooking. Some outstanding creations were her split pea soup, matzoh balls, burrito beef, and chicken salad in which she sauteed the chicken in bacon fat for the smoothest most unctuous mouthfeel.

She had long lasting friendships with coworkers, local and world-wide irisarians, and school friends, particularly from Cherokee Junior High, Madison Community School (MCS) and Malcolm Shabazz High School.

The family will host a gathering Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 1 to 4 at Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, WI 53705. A Celebration of Life will be held in spring when her iris are in full bloom.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the “Madison Area Iris Society” in support of Ella’s Iris Garden, 4600 Rome Corners Rd., Brooklyn WI 53521.

Cress-Speedway

3610 Speedway Road

Madison, WI 53705

(608) 238-3434