Walter E. Ellert's Obituary
Walter was born on July 11, 1939 and grew up in Maple Heights, OH. Being a first generation American from a German-speaking family, school offered new challenges. Besides learning to speak English, he also learned to play the piano and clarinet. He had a mind for mathematics and he was always fascinated with engines and machines. Even as a teenager, he was rebuilding motorcycle engines so that his friends could race them. Walt also liked to ice skate at Northfield Plaza, an indoor rink with an organist. One fateful day in 1958, he asked a girl named Pat to skate. She loved to skate and said yes. On August 25, 1962, Walt married the love of his life, Patricia (Horvath) Ellert and enjoyed their life together for 62 years.
Walt’s father, Joseph, was a tool & die pattern maker and worked with many of the big automobile manufacturers like Chrysler and General Motors. Upon Walt’s graduation from Independence High School in 1957, he received a white convertible Plymouth Belvedere. The car was sent by Chrysler to Joseph Ellert at Acralloy Mold & Pattern company. The car had been made specifically for Walt. The car was FAST with a high-performance engine and many luxury options. The story goes that prior to leaving the assembly line, the autoworkers painted the underside of the car hood with the words HOT ROD.
After high school, Walt went to Case Institute of Technology to study electrical engineering. His older cousin, Ewald Eisemann, who was 15 years his senior was already making a career in the US Air Force. After his second year of studies at Case, Walt and Ewald had lunch. There must have been much talk about the Air Force and flying because after that lunch, Walt ended his studies at Case and enlisted in the Air Force where his dream was to be a pilot. As Walt put it, “We went out to lunch and I never went back”. After an accident that caused Walt to no longer be eligible to fly a plane, he continued to fly as a crew member on B52’s as part of the 24-hour national air defense deployed by NORAD. He focused on the electronics of the airplanes at the end of his tour of duty.
Walt was committed to his upcoming marriage and decided to convert from his Lutheran upbringing to his future wife’s Catholic faith. With the guidance of his best friend, Dan Glow, who became his godfather, Walt studied and received his First Holy Communion at the wedding ceremony.
With all Walt’s electronic knowledge and experience, he joined Jack & Heintz where his Uncle Gottlieb Eisemann worked. When the parent company of Jack & Heintz merged with Lear, Inc. to form Lear Siegler, Inc, a new aerospace engineering facility was created at the Broadway Ave facility where Walt worked. Among his many projects was the development of electronic air filters which are still used today.
Walt preferred being his own boss. With the developments in television during the 60’s, he started Smith Sales & Service. It was a television and stereo sales and repair shop which was located in a small 2-store building on Broadview Road in Broadview Heights. The shop was open from 1970 until 1982.
After closing the shop, Walt expanded his engine building work into a full-time business. Along with building Porsche competition racing engines, he rebuilt and restored Porsche engines as well as repaired customer daily drivers. His love of engines and his skill at building and fine tuning the performance of them carried through his entire life.
In 1985, Walt and Pat sold their house in Parma. They combined households with Walt’s father in Independence to care for him so he didn’t have to leave his home.
In the late 1980’s, Walt was hired to start up his friend’s Green Tractor business. The business flourished and once it was established, Walt left to help manage the True Value hardware store in Independence.
Next, Walt focused on his passion of home improvement and repair. This passion started way back in 1964 with the remodeling of the Key West Drive kitchen. The remodel was to be completed for the birth of their first daughter, but she was 2 weeks early. He worked during every possible minute to get it completed in time for the baby’s homecoming.
In 1992, the Mayor of Independence, Gregory Kurtz, asked Walt to be Service Director. During his tenure, he updated the service department equipment and, more importantly, made possible the ability to analyze and repair them. He also created the Independence Technology department to maintain internet access and electronic systems for security and communications. He completed his directorship in 2003. He continued to serve the city of Independence as a citizen member on various boards and committees.
Until retirement, Walt returned to being his own boss and his passions of engine work and home improvements.
Walt’s first Porsche was a silver 911E which he bought from Stoddard Imported Cars in Willoughby. He then joined the Northern Ohio Region Porsche Club of America (NORPCA) and was a proud member for 50 years. He held the position of President during the 1970’s. When he wasn’t in an officer position, he wrote technical articles for The Voice From the Trunk which was the region’s official newsletter. He arranged for the creation of the digital membership database and then maintained it for many years. More recently, Walt was very influential in bringing auto-crossing back to the club with improved technology for timing and scoring. As a family, we participated in road rallies, racing weekends at Nelson Ledges and Mid-Ohio, concourses, funcanas, and trips to national Porsche parades.
Walt had the opportunity to purchase two 1973 Porsche 914’s from his friend Charlie Stoddard. Both cars had problems and weren’t running. Walt created one car using the best parts from each car. He stripped the paint, flared the back fenders, and rebuilt the engine to create his dream car which was completed in the summer of 1981.
Walt’s talents overflowed into his faith as well. At St. Columbkille Church in Parma, Walt installed and maintained the original sound system in the new church. He was always willing to help with anything the church needed. For example, during one of the first masses, the pastor, Fr. Stephen Radecky, asked for anyone from the congregation who could help with the persistent water drops hitting the altar from the high point of the roof. Walt had some ideas, so he offered to investigate and then later fixed the problem with rain-protected vents.
Walt also installed audio/video cables in the school to every classroom so that Fr. Radecky was able to visually speak to all the students at once. During the summers, Walt would run temporary cables for microphones and speakers to be used outside during the parish picnics. More recently, Walt was a proud member of the Ushers and looked forward to serving every Saturday at 4PM mass.
Along with his wife, Pat, Walt is survived by his daughters Michele Ibos (Ed) and Kim Holsopple (Gary) and grandchildren Lindsay, Matthew, Mary Beth, Anna, Christina, Aaron, and Josh.
Family and friends may gather for visitation at the Vodrazka Funeral Home, 6505 Brecksville Rd., Independence, on Sunday, May 4, 2025 from 3 - 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, May 5, 2025 at St. Columbkille Catholic Church, 6740 Broadview Rd., Parma, at 11:30 a.m. (PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH). Walt will be laid to rest with Military Honors at Maple Shade Cemetery.
What’s your fondest memory of Walter?
What’s a lesson you learned from Walter?
Share a story where Walter's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Walter you’ll never forget.
How did Walter make you smile?