Skip Ellinger

Bruce Michael Skip' Ellinger, age 68, passed away surrounded by his wife Marcia and good friends Carl Riemer and Elizabeth Simon on Thursday, January 20, 2011 at Meriter Hospital in Madison.   He was born on January 12, 1943 in Neenah, WI, a son of Millard and Anna Marie (Jones) Ellinger.   On December 8, 1986, he was united in marriage to Marcia Reeve at the Palmer House in Chicago.   Skip graduated from St. Mary's High School in Neenah in 1961.   He attended Marquette University until enlisting in the Navy, where he worked as an electronics technician.   Skip came to Madison to attend the UW and graduated with a BA in Journalism in 1971.   He worked briefly at WISC TV and the UW news service before joining the MATC Art Department as a Photography teacher.   At MATC, he was instrumental in developing the photography classes into a separate degree program.   Skip was voted Outstanding Teacher of the Year for 1991-92.   He retired from teaching in 2004, periodically returning to WISC as a photojournalist.   Skip is survived by his wife, Marcia Reeve; his cat Peanut'; a brother, Brian (Barb) of Wauwatosa; and many, many friends and acquaintances.   He was preceded in death by his parents.   A Celebration of Skip's life will be held at the Maple Tree Restaurant, 6010 Hwy 51 in McFarland on Sunday, February 13, 2011 starting at 1:00 pm.   Donations may be made to The MATC Foundation or to Dane County Humane Society.   Skip will always be remembered as a creative, gentle and generous man with a unique wit and an incredible sense of humor.