Lloyd Harry LEWIS

LEWIS, BURNS, THOMPSON, BROOKER, ROY, HOYT, HALLORAN, WILLIS, BATES

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:54

February 24, 1920 ---- May 19, 2019

Lloyd Harry Lewis, 99, of Forest City, Iowa died Sunday, May 19, 2019 at the Westview Care Center in Britt, Iowa. Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at the Forest City United Methodist Church with Pastor Jerry Swanberg officiating. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the services at the church on Wednesday. Burial will be held in Oakland Cemetery in Forest City, with Military Honors will be performed by the Forest City American Legion Honor Guard. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, Lloyd Lewis memorial fund in care of the family.

Lloyd was born February 24th, 1920 in New Richland, MN at the home of his grandparents. He was the son of Lloyd Irvin and Hazel (Burns) Lewis. 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 the Kato and Perry Hardware, Coast to Coast, and Hawkes Hotel, and summers on a farm.

In 1941, he was employed at Hormel's in Austin, MN. In July 26th, 1942 he was married to Reta Mae Brooker at her parents' rural home. They lived in Austin until he was drafted into the Army Air Corps. He was stationed at Fresno, California for basic training in Communication Supply, 854th Signal Corp, 4th Air Force. In 1943 he was transferred to Santa Maria, California where he was in Communication Tech Supply. He was discharged in February 1946 at Montgomery, Alabama.

Returning home, they settled in Britt, IA where he was employed at 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 there they were blessed with the arrival of a son, Lonny Lee, December 1953. In 1954, the family moved to Belmond where they started the "Belmond Hardware." While there, they were blessed with a second son, Spencer Ray in December 1959. Later, due to health issues, 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 where 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. In 1982 Lloyd took over as Sexton of the Oakland Cemetery in Forest City until he retired April 1998.

Since Lloyd could not sit idle being retired, he started working for Madison Cemetery part time until 2008, when at the age of 88 his family made Lloyd retire for the third and final time. He kept active with offices in the Methodist Church, President of Senior Citizens, IOOF Lodge (Noble Grand), Rebekah Lodge (Secretary), and WigWam 'N Wagon Campers (President).

For many years as his boys grew up, he was involved in Boy Scouts and also was Scout Master.

He loved his family and spent as much time as possible with them. He kept busy with his yard, flowers, gardening, and enjoyed camping.

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

He leaves to mourn his two sons, Lon (Nancy) Lewis, granddaughter Mary (Austin) Roy; Spencer (Janet) Lewis; granddaughters, Amanda Lewis (Curtis Hoyt), Kaitlyn (Andy) Halloran, Bonnie (Alexander) Willis, Rhiannon Lewis (Dalton Bates), and great grandson, Maddox Willis. Preceding him in death were his wife, RetaMae; parents; grandparents; one sister; and 3 half-brothers.

Arrangements are with Cataldo Schott Funeral Home in Forest City.

Forest City Summit --- Forest City, Iowa
May 24, 2019