Darwin LEWIS

LEWIS, WESTON, JEPPESON, WILEN, RONCHETTO, ZINK, BLUM, BORRALL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/3/2015 at 14:21:32

June 9, 1924 --- March 30, 2015

SIOUX CITY, IA -- Darwin "Dar" Lewis, 90, of Sioux City passed away Monday, March 30, 2015, surrounded by his family. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Waterbury Funeral Home of Sioux City, 4125 Orleans Avenue. Burial will be at a later date in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home.

Dar was born on June 9, 1924, in Rembrandt, Iowa, to Marie (Lewis) and Mick Weston. In his early years, he lived with and was raised by his uncle and aunt, "Smiley" and Annie Lewis in Linn Grove, Iowa, and continued to live with them until his graduation from Linn Grove High School in 1942. During his childhood and high school years, he was active in sports, especially football. From seventh grade on he started as varsity quarterback and was awarded a football scholarship to Drake University upon graduation from high school. He attended Drake University, where he played football until enlisting in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

He was united in marriage to his longtime sweetheart and love of his life, Delores "Dee" Jeppeson, on Dec. 10, 1946. They were blessed with three children, Darla, Derise and Dar. After just a few short weeks of married life he left for San Diego, Calif., where he completed his Naval basic training. He was stationed in Tsingtao, China, during World War II and was awarded the World War II Victory Medal upon discharge from the U.S. Navy in December 1947. Upon his return from war, he and Dee made their home in Fairmont, Minn., where he worked on the Chicago Northwestern Railroad. During the course of their marriage they lived in Woolstock, Iowa, Eagle Grove, Iowa, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Hawarden, Iowa, Rapid City, S.D., Huron, S.D., and finally moved to Sioux City in 1964. They lived in their home until Dee's death in January 2015. He was the freight agent for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad at the time of his retirement in April 1985. During his career on the railroad, he also completed his master of education degree from the University of South Dakota.

Dar wasn't content with the slow pace of retirement and spent his retirement years working at a variety of venues including Hy-Vee and Brooks Golf Course in Okoboji, Iowa. He also worked as a substitute teacher, football and track coach for the Sioux City School District and was fondly referred to by his players as "Coach Lou." He and Dee spent much of their retirement years at their cabin on East Lake Okoboji, where they enjoyed their time boating, fishing and spoiling their grandchildren.

"Papa," as his grandchildren lovingly called him, enjoyed sports, hunting, fishing, and an audience for a good joke. He had a profound love for horses and dogs and he enjoyed traveling to horse sales and rodeos. He possessed a sweet tooth and a love for doughnuts that was only exceeded by his love for his family. In his family, he instilled the values of hard work, discipline, loyalty and unfaltering dedication to his family and friends.

Grateful for having shared his life are his two children, Darla (Rick) Wilen of Sioux City, and Dar (Becky Ronchetto of Sioux City) Lewis of Estherville, Iowa; five grandchildren, Britt (Chad) Zink of Sioux Falls, S.D., Holly Blum of Schuyler, Neb., Candace (Mike) Borrall of Sioux City, Travis (Katie) Lewis of Sheldon, Iowa, and Brian Lewis of Castlerock, Colo.; and six great-grandchildren, Aubrey Zink, Jacob and Addie Borrall, and Jordan, Braiden and Gage Blum. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dee; and his daughter, Derise.

Sioux City Journal - Iowa
April 3, 2015