Ferdinand "Ted" Ellos, 97, of 103 W. Michigan Ave., Ironwood, retired longtime area businessman, died Saturday morning, Oct. 3, 2009, with his family by his side, in Ironwood.      The last survivor of twelve children, he was born Aug. 29, 1912, in Cary Location, Hurley, son of the late Elario and Lucia (Bruno) Ellos. He attended Cary Elementary School and graduated from Hurley High School in 1930.      Ted entered the U.S. Army in 1943 and served in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II, stationed in Hawaii. Following his honorable discharge as a staff sergeant in 1945, he returned home and worked for Lake Superior District Power Co. and Sears-Roebuck & Co. prior to opening his own business, Ted Ellos Appliance, in 1954, which he owned and operated with his sons Dennis and Peter until his retirement in 1974.      Ted was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood where he served as cross bearer and acolyte at funerals. He was also a member of Hurley American Legion Post 58, Knights of Columbus Council 1396, a past board member of the former Ironwood Elks Lodge, and served as past president of the Ironwood Chamber of Commerce. He loved golfing and the outdoors, and was a former member of the Gogebic Country Club.      He was married to the former Margaret L. Simmons on June 2, 1942, in Jericho, Wis. She survives their 67 years of marriage.                                                                 Ted and Margaret traveled extensively before and after retirement throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean Islands with their family.       Ted said, "Don't ever forget the boys who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we all can enjoy the freedom that the U.S.A. has to offer."       Surviving are his wife, Margaret; four sons, Dennis (Linda), Ironwood Township, Rob (Barbara), Stillwater, Minn., Peter (Becky), Ironwood Township, and David (Carol), St. Cloud, Minn.; two daughters, Karyn (Gordon) Watters, Ashland, Wis., and Mary Pat Niemi, Eugene, Ore.; eight grandchildren, Geoff Watters, Wausau, Wis., Brynna (Andy) Moffitt, Ashland, Rachel Watters (Erik Wilhelm), Madison, Wis., Cody (Laura) Ellos, Maple Grove, Minn., Chad (Nicole) Ellos, Eden Prairie, Minn., Nicole Niemi, Los Angeles, Tara (Ryan) Anderson, Mason, Mich., and Amy (Kevin) Lahti, Ironwood Township; nine great-grandchildren, Lauren Watters, Meghan Moffitt, Jack Wilhelm, Cayden and Connor Ellos, Ty and Aubrie Anderson, and Tia and Breleigh Lahti; and numerous nieces and nephews.      Besides his parents, Ted was preceded in death by two brothers, Simon and Domenic; and nine sisters, Amanda Hill, Minnie Mattson, Mary Philp, Margaret Brennan, Madeline Fisher, Jennie Ellos, Jane Ellos, Lucille Lund and Angeline Sterny.      Dad always said, " Families are what life is all about. You have made my life worthwhile. To those I love, I thank you for that love you have shown. The next time we meet, I'll say "Welcome home'.      Come celebrate Ted's life with us!      A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Oct. 10, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl Pepin, celebrant.      Rite of Committal will take place in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church, where full military honors will be accorded by the combined Hurley American Legion Post 58 and Iron Co. VFW Post 1580 Honor Guard.      A luncheon reception will follow in the parish hall.      Inurnment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood.      Relatives and friends may call in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday.      To view Ted's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.      Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.