In Memory Of
Charles Thomas Lewis
1921
2014
Charles Thomas Lewis
April 26, 1921 — September 14, 2014
A tribute to Charles "Charlie" Thomas Lewis, who died at home on Sunday, September 14, 2014 at the tender age of 93. He was born to James Thomas and Anna Melissa (Barker) Lewis on April 26, 1921 in Cherryvale, Kansas.
He attended a number of different schools in his early years and Joplin Junior College and Independence Junior College as a young adult. He often told his family that he attended Joplin Junior College at the same time actor Dennis Weaver attended there.
Charles served our country during World War II. He served as a Laboratory Tester in the United States Army; attached to 27th Evacuation Hospital. He took great pride in telling people that he got to see North Africa, Italy, France, England and Germany.
While in Germany he met and married Elisabethe Johanna Krause on April 13, 1951 in Darmstadt, Germany. He had two children with Elisabethe. After his return to the United States his marriage to Elisabethe dissolved and he met and married Fern Lucille Wagnon on August 11, 1956 in Nowata, Oklahoma. He had five children with Fern.
Charles lived much of his adult life in Topeka and held a number of different jobs, including a magazine route with Palmer News, taxi driver, and city bus driver. Charles was later employed at Lansing State Penitentiary and then at the Kansas Reception and Diagnostic Center as a correctional officer. Charles returned to college at Washburn University and completed the educational requirements to become a social worker; he worked for Social and Rehabilitation Services in Topeka.
After retiring from social work Charles and Fern visited his son in Germany. When they returned home Charles found that retirement wasn't all it was cracked up to be and secured a position as a greeter at WalMart in Topeka. Charles retired from WalMart when he started having problems with his memory.
While in Topeka Charles was involved as a volunteer in Man 2 Man Prison Ministry, Kansas Children's Service League and YWCA Crisis Counseling. After Fern's death he moved to live with his daughter and became involved as a volunteer through RSVP in Manhattan. Charles volunteered regularly at the North Central Flint Hills Area on Aging and for Help Us Learn…Give Us Hope.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents, his brother (Alfred), his first wife (Elisabethe), his second wife (Fern), his first daughter (Mildred) and his youngest daughter (Ella Mae).
Charles is survived and celebrated by his children Charles Lewis Jr. and wife (Anne) of Dieberg, Germany; Barbara Cummings and husband (Michael) of Topeka; Arlene Lundberg and husband (Jeff) of Manhattan; Jim Lewis and wife (Ann) of Cottage Grove, Minnesota; and Larry Lewis and wife (Mona) of Topeka.
Charles is also survived and celebrated by his grandchildren Charles Lewis III and wife (Patricia) of Dieberg, Germany; Horst Haase and wife (Claudia) of Singen, Germany; Marianne Haase of Germany; William Keough and wife (Eletha) of Dayton, Ohio; Robert Keough and wife (Adrea Logan) of Dayton, Ohio; Marvin Cummings and wife (Lisa) of Hoyt; Bill Cummings and wife (Kristie) of Wichita; Lauren Berryhill of Manhattan; Erik Lundberg of Manhattan; John Lundberg of Manhattan; Ryan Lewis and partner (Karen Gessert); Jeremy Lewis of Florida, Izabella Lewis of Topeka, Katrina Lewis of Topeka. There are also many, many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins that survive and celebrate Charles' life.
Charles was cremated. No services are planned. Private inurnment will be held at West Lawn Memorial Gardens at a later date. Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Homecare and Hospice, Inc. at 3801 Vanesta Drive, Manhattan, KS 66503, CaringBridge.org, or Cure Alzheimer's Fund (curealz.org).
The family would like to offer a very special thank you to all the staff at Homecare and Hospice for the support and help received during the final chapter of Dad's life and to Ellen Weiss for sharing her artistic talent with us in the form of a life-like sketch of Charles.
To leave a special memory of Charles, please visit the guestbook below.
He attended a number of different schools in his early years and Joplin Junior College and Independence Junior College as a young adult. He often told his family that he attended Joplin Junior College at the same time actor Dennis Weaver attended there.
Charles served our country during World War II. He served as a Laboratory Tester in the United States Army; attached to 27th Evacuation Hospital. He took great pride in telling people that he got to see North Africa, Italy, France, England and Germany.
While in Germany he met and married Elisabethe Johanna Krause on April 13, 1951 in Darmstadt, Germany. He had two children with Elisabethe. After his return to the United States his marriage to Elisabethe dissolved and he met and married Fern Lucille Wagnon on August 11, 1956 in Nowata, Oklahoma. He had five children with Fern.
Charles lived much of his adult life in Topeka and held a number of different jobs, including a magazine route with Palmer News, taxi driver, and city bus driver. Charles was later employed at Lansing State Penitentiary and then at the Kansas Reception and Diagnostic Center as a correctional officer. Charles returned to college at Washburn University and completed the educational requirements to become a social worker; he worked for Social and Rehabilitation Services in Topeka.
After retiring from social work Charles and Fern visited his son in Germany. When they returned home Charles found that retirement wasn't all it was cracked up to be and secured a position as a greeter at WalMart in Topeka. Charles retired from WalMart when he started having problems with his memory.
While in Topeka Charles was involved as a volunteer in Man 2 Man Prison Ministry, Kansas Children's Service League and YWCA Crisis Counseling. After Fern's death he moved to live with his daughter and became involved as a volunteer through RSVP in Manhattan. Charles volunteered regularly at the North Central Flint Hills Area on Aging and for Help Us Learn…Give Us Hope.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents, his brother (Alfred), his first wife (Elisabethe), his second wife (Fern), his first daughter (Mildred) and his youngest daughter (Ella Mae).
Charles is survived and celebrated by his children Charles Lewis Jr. and wife (Anne) of Dieberg, Germany; Barbara Cummings and husband (Michael) of Topeka; Arlene Lundberg and husband (Jeff) of Manhattan; Jim Lewis and wife (Ann) of Cottage Grove, Minnesota; and Larry Lewis and wife (Mona) of Topeka.
Charles is also survived and celebrated by his grandchildren Charles Lewis III and wife (Patricia) of Dieberg, Germany; Horst Haase and wife (Claudia) of Singen, Germany; Marianne Haase of Germany; William Keough and wife (Eletha) of Dayton, Ohio; Robert Keough and wife (Adrea Logan) of Dayton, Ohio; Marvin Cummings and wife (Lisa) of Hoyt; Bill Cummings and wife (Kristie) of Wichita; Lauren Berryhill of Manhattan; Erik Lundberg of Manhattan; John Lundberg of Manhattan; Ryan Lewis and partner (Karen Gessert); Jeremy Lewis of Florida, Izabella Lewis of Topeka, Katrina Lewis of Topeka. There are also many, many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins that survive and celebrate Charles' life.
Charles was cremated. No services are planned. Private inurnment will be held at West Lawn Memorial Gardens at a later date. Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Homecare and Hospice, Inc. at 3801 Vanesta Drive, Manhattan, KS 66503, CaringBridge.org, or Cure Alzheimer's Fund (curealz.org).
The family would like to offer a very special thank you to all the staff at Homecare and Hospice for the support and help received during the final chapter of Dad's life and to Ellen Weiss for sharing her artistic talent with us in the form of a life-like sketch of Charles.
To leave a special memory of Charles, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles Thomas Lewis, please visit our flower store.
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