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Lewis, Lloyd H. (1920-2019)

LEWIS, BURNS, THOMPSON, BROOKER

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 8/22/2019 at 16:54:25

Lloyd H. Lewis
February 24, 1920 - May 19, 2019

Lloyd H. Lewis, 99, of Forest City, died on Sunday, May 19, 2019, at the Westview Care Center in Britt, Iowa.

Lloyd was born to Lloyd Irvin and Hazel (Burns) Lewis on February 24th, 1920, at his grandparents’ home in New Richland, Minnesota. In 1927, he moved with his grandparents, Ole and Maude Thompson, to Forest City where he lived throughout his school years. As a young man he worked at Kato and Perry Hardware, Coast to Coast, and Hawkes Hotel and during the summers he worked on a farm.

In 1941, he was employed at Hormel's in Austin, Minnesota. On July 26th, 1942, he married Reta Mae Brooker at her parents' rural home. They lived in Austin until he was drafted into the Army Air Corps. Stationed first at Fresno, California, for basic training in Communication Supply with the 854th Signal Corp, 4th Air Force, he transferred to Santa Maria, California, in 1943 where he worked in Communication Tech Supply.

Discharged in February 1946 at Montgomery, Alabama, he returned home where he and RetaMae settled in Britt, Iowa. There, he worked for Kreitinger Hardware on a G.I. Training Program for Hardware Management. Later, he and RetaMae moved back to Forest City where they joined Lloyd's family and opened the original “Hi-Way Market.” They, later, moved to Northwood where he was employed at Nelson Hardware. While living there, they were blessed with the arrival of a son, Lonny Lee, in December 1953. In 1954, however, the family moved to Belmond where they started “Belmond Hardware.” In Belmont, they were blessed with a second son, Spencer Ray, in December 1959. Later, for reason of health, they sold the hardware store and moved to Mason City where, for a short time, Lloyd operated a laundromat.

In 1964, Lloyd began working at Curries Hardware, managing their tool department. In 1970, the family moved back to Forest City, and he worked at the Forester Trailer Factory until it closed in 1980. Lloyd, then, sold trailers for Paul's Mobile Home in Mason City until 1982. Then, Lloyd took over as Sexton of the Oakland Cemetery in Forest City until he retired April 1998.

Since Lloyd could not sit idle after retiring, he started working at the Madison Cemetery part-time until 2008 when, at the age of 88, his family made him retire for the third and final time. Still, he kept active with offices in the Methodist Church, as President of Senior Citizens, with the IOOF Lodge (Noble Grand), Rebekah Lodge (Secretary), and WigWam ‘N Wagon Campers (President). Otherwise, for many years as his boys were growing up, he served as Scout Master.

Lloyd loved his family and spent as much time as possible with them. He kept busy working in his yard, mowing the grass, tending his flowers, and gardening as well as going camping.

In December 2013, Lloyd entered the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Forest City, Iowa, where he enjoyed the activities and continued to interact actively with his family. In December 2018, he moved to the Westview Care Center in Britt, Iowa, where all will remember his stubborn, fun loving personality.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, May 22, 2019, at the Forest City United Methodist Church in Forest City with Pastor Jerry Swanberg officiating. Visitation is scheduled for one hour before the services at the church on Wednesday. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery in Forest City with Military Honors performed by the Forest City American Legion Honor Guard. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Lloyd Lewis memorial fund in care of the family.

Cataldo Schott Funeral Home, Forest City, Iowa, 2019.


 

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