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Grover “Manty” Edwin Ellis

January 16, 1933 - July 9, 2026
Visitation
Krause Funeral Home Brown Deer
7001 West Brown Deer Road
Milwaukee, WI 53223
Saturday 7/25, 10:00 am - 11:45 am
Service
Krause Funeral Home Brown Deer
7001 West Brown Deer Road
Milwaukee, WI 53223
Saturday 7/25, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Memorial

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to The Milwaukee Jazz Institute. https://www.milwaukeejazzinstitute.org/

Grover Edwin “Manty” Ellis, age 93, of Milwaukee, WI, passed away peacefully on July 9, 2026. Known affectionately as the “Godfather of Milwaukee Jazz,” Manty was a legendary guitarist, educator, and foundational pillar of the music community. His profound impact as a mentor shaped generations of musicians and left an indelible mark on the cultural history of his beloved city. He is survived by his loving family, friends, countless students, and devoted fans.

Celebration of Manty’s life and musical legacy will be held at Krause Funeral Home, 7001 West Brown Deer Road, on Saturday, July 25, 2026. Visitation 10:00 AM – 11:45 AM. Service 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to The Milwaukee Jazz Institute. https://www.milwaukeejazzinstitute.org/

Man in a black sweater and gold chains playing a sunburst electric guitar, looking at the camera.
Close-up, black-and-white shot of an older man playing an acoustic guitar, with focus on his freckled face and hand on the fretboard.
Side-profile of a man with a guitar in a dark setting, concentrating on playing the instrument (black-and-white photo).
A man in a suit playing an orange sunburst jazz guitar against a dark background.
Elderly man in a black cap and dark shirt seated on a gray sofa, looking to the side.
Black-and-white photo of a man with a mustache playing a guitar, looking to the side.
Jazz quartet in a recording studio: saxophonist in a knit cap playing his sax, guitarist beside him, pianist at a grand piano, and a bassist in back.
Band rehearsal in a studio: a bass player standing and others with guitars, drums, and amplifiers scattered around with cables on the floor.
Three men in vintage outfits posing closely for a group photo against a wood-paneled background.
Group of eight adults posing on a stage after a performance, with colorful lights and a 'Redstone' sign in the background.
Musician in a blue blazer playing an acoustic guitar at a festive indoor gathering, other band members visible in background.
Two men posing together for a photo, one in a black shirt and the other in a striped shirt with a straw hat, in front of a doorway.
Three jazz musicians perform on a stage beneath a curved Milwaukee Jazz banner: guitarist on the left, singer in the center, reed player on the right.
Black-and-white photo of a trio performing on stage: guitarist on the left, a female vocalist center, and a horn player on the right.
Black-and-white photo of two men seated at a desk with microphones, appearing to speak or present at a meeting or broadcast.
Black-and-white photo of a multi-person jazz band posing together with their instruments (guitar, saxophone, trumpet, bass) in a dim room, mid-20th century style attire.
Three musicians performing: a pianist on the left and two guitarists on the right, in a black-and-white photo.
Blue-tinted promotional poster featuring a side profile silhouette and bold yellow performer names for a jazz lounge series, with vertical text on the right edge reading Jazz Lounge Series.
Black-and-white group photo of a Senior Orchestra with three rows of students in formal attire; roster text shown above.
Black-and-white portrait of a man intensely playing an acoustic guitar, gazing down at the neck.
Group of four smiling men posing together indoors, wearing hats and coats.
Black-and-white portrait of an older man in a beanie and jacket, raising a clenched fist in a celebratory gesture.
Black-and-white photo of an elderly man playing an acoustic guitar with his eyes closed, focused on the music.
Elderly man in a light gray suit plays a burgundy guitar indoors, gazing at the camera.
Black-and-white photo of a guitarist performing on stage with a bassist in the background; watermark reads Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.
Black-and-white photo of a person playing an acoustic guitar, eyes closed, in a dim setting as they strum the instrument.
Older man in a black cap and jacket sits on a gray sofa in a living room, looking to the right.
Five male musicians posing for a photo in a room: trumpet player on the left, guitarist seated center, upright bass player on the right, and two others smiling in back.
Nighttime cafe scene with a small jazz trio—saxophonist, clarinetist, and accordionist—performing for a few onlookers.
Four musicians pose together in a backstage rehearsal area; one man holds a saxophone, another sits with a guitar, and two others stand smiling beside him.
Three men in suits pose beside a Steinway grand piano in a formal room with a chandelier and heavy curtains, one seated at the piano.
Two men in suits on a stage, one holding a clipboard as they speak into microphones during a live performance or presentation.
Man wearing glasses plays an acoustic guitar, seated and focused on the strings in a black-and-white photo.
Older man in a dark shirt stands indoors near framed artwork on the wall in a gallery-like setting.
Manty Ellis plays a hollow-body guitar on stage while Richard Davis stands with a bass beside him.
Bald man looking upward, playing a guitar with a patterned strap visible over his shoulder on stage.
A small band performs indoors with two guitarists and a vocalist, others in the background watching and singing along.
Man playing an electric guitar, eyes closed, in a dim studio; another musician blurred in the background.
Black-and-white photo of a guitarist in a sweater playing an electric guitar on a dim stage, with a drummer in the background.
Senior man in a blazer playing an acoustic guitar, looking thoughtful in a home setting (black and white photo).
Elderly man with a beige cap and black zip-up jacket, close-up portrait.
An older man playing an acoustic guitar, focused on his hands, against a black background.
Man in a dark shirt playing a sunburst electric guitar, focusing on the fretboard and strumming with hands visible.
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Visitation
Krause Funeral Home Brown Deer
7001 West Brown Deer Road
Milwaukee, WI 53223
Map
Saturday 7/25, 10:00 am - 11:45 am
Service
Krause Funeral Home Brown Deer
7001 West Brown Deer Road
Milwaukee, WI 53223
Map
Saturday 7/25, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Memorial

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to The Milwaukee Jazz Institute. https://www.milwaukeejazzinstitute.org/

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Grover Edwin “Manty” Ellis, age 93, of Milwaukee, WI, passed away peacefully on July 9, 2026. Known affectionately as the “Godfather of Milwaukee Jazz,” Manty was a legendary guitarist, educator, and foundational pillar of the music community. His profound impact as a mentor shaped generations of musicians and left an indelible mark on the culturalContinue Reading

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Michael left a message on July 16, 2026:
As a student at the Conservatory decades ago, Manty Ellis served as my instructor, mentor, and friend. Like his fellow colleagues at the Conservatory (Tony King and Berkeley Fudge), Manty Ellis always brought a sense of compassion, sincerity, and joy to his teaching duties. Under his tutelage, many musicians have been able to find their own personal style, blending individual preference with the traditional genre that defined Manty and his contemporaries. This irreplaceable loss will never be forgotten. We have lost a true gem in the Milwaukee area, in the music industry, and in the world at-large. No doubt, Heaven has awakened with his spirit, his music, and his inspiration. May he rest in peace with the assurance that countless proteges continue to pursue his enduring legacy, one that is rooted in the enrichment, fulfillment, and preservation of the uniquely African American art form known as jazz. God Bless~
Krause Funeral Home & Cremation Services left a message:
Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.
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