Lewis, William O. (1921 - 2010)

LEWIS, OUREN, LUTHER, WIINANEN, LARSON, WHITMORE, CREIGHTON, KOTTKE, GREENE, ERICKSON

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 8/19/2013 at 10:54:57

William O. Lewis - Age 88

William Ouren Lewis, the son of William Jackson Lewis and Bernice Ann (Ouren) Lewis, was born on October 6, 1921, in Harlan. He graduated from Harlan High School with the class of 1939. Bill continued his education at Grinnell College in Iowa, and then transferred to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he lettered in track and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1943.

After enlisting in the US Marine Corps, Bill was commissioned as a first lieutenant and sent to the South Pacific. For fifteen months he saw action on the island of Peleliu, now remembered as the site of one of the most brutal battles of WW II. Bill was in charge of bomb disposal on the island and was promoted to captain while he was there. He continued to be active in the US Marine Corps Reserves, rising to the rank of major.

Bill completed his law degree at the University of Iowa in 1948, and was soon after united in marriage to Jacquelyn Jean Luther of Memphis, Missouri on July 18. Three children were born to this union: Rebecca, Jeffrey, and Constance.

During his law career Bill tried cases before the Iowa Supreme Court and he was elected Shelby County Attorney three times, serving from 1953-1959. In 1962 Bill moved his family to a farm south of Harlan in Fairview Township, and he continued to live there with his wife until the time of his death.

Bill was active in the Congregational United Church of Christ. He and Jackie led the United Church Youth, and Bill also served on the church’s board of trustees, taught the adult Sunday school class, and sang bass in the choir.

He was a member of the Harlan Kiwanis, Jaycees, Parian Masonic Lodge No. 321 A.F. and A.M. of Harlan, Abu Bekr Shrine of Sioux City, The Shelby County Extension Service, Shelby Co. Fair Board, Harlan American Legion (Helmer Reyelt Post No. 150), Shelby County VFW Post No. 941, Harlan Country Club, Shelby County Farm Bureau, Shelby County Saddle Club, Harlan Chamber of Commerce, and Irwin Feed Service. Bill was a director of the Harlan National Bank for over four decades, and he was a member of the American Bar Association.

Interests and activities Bill enjoyed include hunting, jogging, swimming at the lake, water and cross country skiing, wine, golf, flying, science fiction, sing-a-longs, contract bridge, and traveling.

Bill died on Saturday, February 6, 2010, at his home, having attained the age of eighty-eight years and four months. He is preceded in death by his brother Francis Jackson Lewis (Harlan), his sister-law Florence Day Lewis (Harlan), and his brother-in-law Judge John Edward Luther II of Memphis, Missouri.

He is survived by: his wife, Jacquelyn of Harlan; daughters Rebecca Wiinanen (Jim) of Grand Marais, Minnesota and Constance Larson (Eric) of Rochester, Minnesota; son Jeffrey of Chicago, Illinois; sister LuAnn Whitmore of Juno Beach Florida; grandchildren Robert Creighton, Laura Kottke, Marja Wiinanen, Sarah Greene, Karli Wiinanen, and Marissa, Anna, and Nathan Larson; great-grandchildren William Creighton, Kaj Erickson, and Reese Kottke; sisters-in-law Ann Luther, Memphis, Missouri, and Laura Luther, Athens, Ohio.

Funeral Services were held on Saturday, February 13, 2010, at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Harlan, Iowa. Pastor Donna Ewert officiated the 11:00 AM service with interment at the Harlan Cemetery with Pat Deren, Steve Boettger, William J. Lewis, Paul Stephany, Phil Harvey, Brody Deren, and Elliott Svendsen serving as pallbearers. Acting as honorary pallbearers were: Carl Bisgard, Frank "Rusty" Wirth, Jack Bogen, Larry Wunder, William Bisgard, Dennis Stamp, Charlie Bocken, Kurt Boettger, and Eddie Roos.

Memorials may be directed to:
Harlan Community Library
Myrtue Medical Hospice
Congregational United Church of Christ - Harlan

Source: pauleyjones.com (Pauley Jones Funeral Home)
Posted by permission