Gerald Dee Lewis was born to Glenn A. and Reta T. Sewell Lewis on February 23, 1924 on a farm northeast of Hoxie, Kansas, and parted this Life November 20, 2016 at the age of 92. He received his education in rural school District 44, and graduated from Sheridan Community High School with the class of 1942.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942, received his basic training and was sent overseas with the 383rd Infantry Regiment, 83rd Division. He was wounded near St. Lo, France, and received a Purple Heart.
Dee and Norma Jean Schropp were married on May 1, 1945 in Hoxie at the Methodist Parsonage while he was on leave from Winter General Hospital in Topeka, Kansas. They spent about three years in various Army hospitals trying to save his leg. He received an artificial limb after being discharged from Fitzsimons General Hospital and the Army in May of 1948. In November 1948, they returned to take up life on a farm northeast of Hoxie where they raised three children, Deanna Jean, Tim Edward and Dan Dean. He was a farmer and rancher. They moved to Hoxie in December of 1988 but he continued to help farm until a few years ago when his eye sight began to fail.
He was a member of the Sheridan County Farm Bureau and a Lifetime member of the VFW. He enjoyed fishing, camping, traveling and watching high school wrestling throughout the years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Norma Jean’s parents Max and Ida Schropp, and a granddaughter, Karen Lynn Lewis.
Survivors are his wife, Norma Jean, his daughter, Deanna and husband Larry Kness of Apache Junction, Arizona, and their children Troy and Tonya Allen of Brighton, Colorado, and their family, Tammy and Ed Loftis of Craig, Nebraska, and their family, Lanny and Kim Kness of Boulder, Colorado. His son Tim and Kristine Lewis of Concordia, Kansas, and their children Tracie Lewis of Overland Park, Kansas, Tad and Suzanne of Columbia, S. Carolina, Andy Lewis of Wichita, Kansas. Dan and Gail Lewis of Dresden, Kansas, and their children, Kyle Lewis of Irving, Texas, Dustin and Deadria Lewis of Osawatomie, Kansas, Jay and Heather Lewis of Hoxie, Kansas, Jeremy and Bethany Samson of Wakeeney, Kansas, and Jeffrey and Misty Samson of Ludell, Kansas. In total, he had 11 Grandchildren, 18 Great-Grandchildren and 1 Great-Great-Grandchild.
Funeral services will be held on Nov. 26th, 2016, at 10:30 P.M., at Hoxie First Presbyterian Church with Stan Smith officiating. Interment will be made at the Hoxie Cemetery with Military Honors. Visitation will be held Nov. 25 from 11:00 A.M. until 7:00 P.M. at Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home.
Memorials may be given to the Hoxie High School Wrestling Team or the Sheridan County Benefit Walk and sent in care of the Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, P.O. Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740. Online condolences may be left at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com.