Elmer "Ace" R. Tollefsen

Tollefsen, Elmer R. (“Ace”). Beloved husband of the late Helen F. Tollefsen, loving father of Scott B. and Blake S. (Joan) Tollefsen, proud grandfather of Gabrielle M. and Caroline A. Tollefsen and the late Sarah E. Tollefsen, and friend to many. Passed away Monday, January 15, 2024, in Pasadena, California at the age of 103. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Bernt and Anna Tollefsen, and by his seven brothers and sisters.

Ace Tollefsen was born in Chicago on May 22, 1920, to parents who had immigrated from Norway. He grew up during the Depression and graduated from Lane Tech High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, served in the South Pacific, and was honorably discharged in September 1945. He then enrolled in Chicago’s new Roosevelt College – now Roosevelt University – to study business, graduated, and moved to Cincinnati for a job in 1950, where he met Helen. They married in 1952, had their sons Scott and Blake, and lived in Terrace Park for 60 years. Ace had a long career working in sales in the packaging industry, first with Container Corporation of America and later for Westvaco Corporation, retiring in 1986.

Ace was devoted to family, sharing a wide range of interests with Helen including travel and socializing with long-time friends, and supporting his sons and granddaughters in their growth, education, and activities. He also enjoyed providing service to his neighbors and the community. He was an active leader with the Boy Scouts in southwestern Ohio for over 20 years, assisting 27 young Scouts in Terrace Park’s Troop 286 in earning the rank of Eagle. He helped coach his sons’ baseball teams. Over decades of involvement at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Terrace Park, he served several terms on the vestry and as Junior Warden, co-chaired the annual Every Member Canvass fund-raising program, managed much of the church’s efforts in developing the Thomaston Woods housing community, worked on clergy committees, trained acolytes, sang in the choir, and served as head usher. He also volunteered at Bethesda North Hospital for 17 years after his retirement, visiting weekly as a Patient Representative and serving on hospital policymaking committees.

A Celebration of Life Service for Ace will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 10:00 am at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 100 Miami Ave., Terrace Park, Ohio, and will be followed immediately by a reception at the church for remembering both Helen and Ace. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Thomas Episcopal Church.