Sports, Nondas Matilda Lewis

SPORTS, LEWIS, WICKLIFF, OLSON, GRIMM, MCMASTER, CLARK, STAYSKAL, ASCHAN

Posted By: Patricia Sports
Date: 4/14/2014 at 12:53:27

Mother's Obituary

NONDAS MATILDA LEWIS SPORTS (Obituary)

Heaven saved a special place for Nondas Matilda Lewis Sports, our dearest mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. On (date), she departed peacefully bound for her journey to be with Our Lord and Savior forever in His glorious Heavenly Home.

Nondas Sports, known to family and friends as Nonnie, was born in Newton, Iowa on May 31, 1921 to parents Robert Charles and Noviline (Wickliff) Lewis. Nonnie was the elder of her sisters: Rosemary (Dean) Olson, Louise (Alfred) Grimm, Wanda (Bud) McMaster and Delores (Butch) Clark.

After graduating from Newton High School, Nonnie and her sister Rosemary moved to Long Beach, California. During World War II, She became one of the many women who were symbolized as “Rosie the Riveter.” She responded to the call to the war plants to work on aircrafts and vehicles which were crucial to the war efforts. It was in California where she met and married her beloved husband, George Marion Sports. They enjoyed 62 years of marriage before his passing on September 9, 2008.

Year after year, she showed compassion, understanding, hope but most of all unconditional love to everyone. She was the cornerstone of her family. Nonnie, a morning person, always up before the sun rise, singing and cooking breakfast for her family. She was proud of her garden where fresh vegetables were raised for family meals as well as canning for the winter months. She was a fiercely devoted mother and loving farmer’s wife where family was her greatest joy. She liked nothing better than to share her homemade bread /cinnamon rolls and visit, never tiring of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s stories of what they were doing. She loved to dance the Fox Trot, Waltz, Jive, Swing, Boogie Woogie and Jitterbug. Nonnie was kind and helpful to others and enjoyed reading to residents, working on her ceramics and playing Bingo at the Iowa Veteran’s Home.

We will remember Nonnie’s smiles, her side winks and the twinkle in her big brown eyes. She will remain a living presence for her family and friends for she will be remembered when one smells freshly baked bread, seeing a beautiful pink rose, hearing the whisper of leaves fall, listening to a morning dove coo and/or hearing a person hum.

The family will be receiving friends (date) from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Pence-Reese Funeral Home in Newton, Iowa. There will be a celebration service conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday by Pastors William Patton and Randy Mason. Burial will be at Newton Union Cemetery next to her beloved husband, George Marion Sports.

Those left to honor Nonnie’s memory are her 3 daughters: Sallie (Carl) Aschan, Patricia and Marion (Greg) Stayskal and 3 sons; George Jr, Larry (Pat) and Michael (Sherri) and their families of 7 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren; her youngest sister Deloris, many nieces/nephews and their families. We all thought each one of us were her favorite. That was the gift that Nonnie gave, to make everyone feel like they were the “special one”.
She was preceded in death by her husband George Marion, Son-in-law Carl Aschan, Jr, grandson Major Shawn W. Aschan, parents Robert and Noviline Lewis, sisters Rosemary, Wanda and Louise.

Mother Our Angel

Once upon a time an angel held our hand,
She wiped away our tears and helped us understand.
Our time on earth is brief, there are lessons to be learned,
Each precious day God gives us another page is turned.
Every chapter full of memories, times of joy and tears,
Triumphs and defeats, through every passing year.
She loved us unconditional, always by our side,
When no one else would listen, in her we could confide.
With gentle words of wisdom she led us on our way,
Down the paths of righteousness if ever we did stray.
She saw the light in everyone and gave with no regrets,
Always from her heart let us not forget.
Angels come in many forms, for us it is our mother,
With love we cannot say in words…there’ll never be another.
Every day we turn the page in our hearts will ever remain,
Everything she taught us as we stroll down memory lane.
Thank you God for giving us the most priceless of all treasures,
Help us Lord to keep alive her memory here forever.
As we gather here today there’s no ending to her story,
Another chapter has begun full of grace and glory.
God called her to His heavenly home, part of His great plan,
Although it may be hard, we all must understand.
Faith is what is hoped for, things we cannot see,
Heaven is promised to all of us if only we believe.