Melissa E. ‘Missy’ Van Guilder, age 41 of Ellsworth died of a sudden cardiac arrest while at work at Cenex Convenience Gas in Ellsworth on November 11th, 2021.  Missy was born on March 31, 1980 in Redwing, MN; the daughter of Robert and Lynette (Runge) Van Guilder. She attended Prairie View Elementary near Hager City prior to attending Ellsworth High School.

Many will remember Missy for her welcoming smile at the Cenex Convenience Store in Ellsworth. Through great customer service, she worked her way to assistant manager where she was a dedicated employee for ten years.

She thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors. She enjoyed searching for unique agates in local creeks and giving them a beautiful polish. She loved kids. Although she did not have any children of her own, she was a ‘beloved aunt’ to many youngsters. She adored her pets. They were her life; especially her dog Charlie. Moreover, she enjoyed moonlighting as a bar tender at Snowballs in Ellsworth where she made so many friends. Her light hearted, sassy, prankster demeanor will be forever missed!

She will forever live on in the hearts of her parents Bob ‘Van’ and Lynette Van Guilder of Ellsworth, sister Annette Van Guilder of St. Paul, brother David Van Guilder of Texas; and her fiancé Brandon Walker. She is preceded in death by her grandparents Joseph and Maria Van Guilder and Virgil and Edith Runge.

A Celebration of Life for Missy Van Guilder will be from 2pm to 4pm with a prayer service to conclude at 4pm, Friday at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Ellsworth. Memorials are preferred to the discretion of the family. Funeral and cremation services have been entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Ellsworth.