Florence "Leona" Lewis

Larchwood, Iowa Leona Lewis, age 88 of Larchwood died Monday, September 5, 2011 at Sanford Hospital in Rock Rapids, IA. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Friday, Sept. 9th at the United Church of Christ in Larchwood, IA, with Pastor Kelly Volk officiating. Burial will follow at the Larchwood Cemetery in Larchwood. Visitation will be Thursday, Sept. 8th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the United Church of Christ. Jurrens Funeral Home of Larchwood is in charge of arrangements. Florence Leona (Grotewold) Lewis was born March 24, 1923, in Ruthton, Minnesota, the daughter of Frank and Grace (McEnaney) Grotewold. Many of her old friends and family knew Leona as Onnie . Her Grandpa, Dr. James B. McEnaney delivered Leona, as well as all of her siblings. Leona grew up west of Larchwood on the Grotewold family farm. Leona attended the Country School Sioux #2 and then later graduated from Larchwood High School in 1941. On December 1, 1945, she was united in marriage to Vernon Lewis at the Community Church in Larchwood, IA. To this union four children were born. The couple began their lives together farming on Leonas parents farm where they raised their family until retiring from farming in 1960. Leona was a devoted farm wife and mother. In 1961 they moved their family into the town of Larchwood. During those years Leona baby sat for family and for a short time worked at Otis, in Canton, SD. She enjoyed watching Wheel of Fortune and playing cards such as Hand & Foot and Wahoo . Leona was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 561. She and Vernon enjoyed playing golf at the new course in Larchwood. Most of all Leona loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In 1971 they moved to Rock Rapids, IA where Vernon took over a new job and they remained there until his retirement in 1986, when they moved back to Larchwood. In 2007 they moved to Premier Estates Assisted Living Center in Rock Rapids, IA. On July 18, 2009 Leonas husband, Vernon died, after 64 years of marriage. In June of 2011 Leona moved into the Rock Rapids Health Center facility. Leona passed away at Sanford Hospital at Rock Rapids, at the age of 88 years. She will be greatly missed. Leona is survived by her children, Wayne (Nancy Myers) Lewis of Wichita Falls, TX, Sandi (Gary) Schacht of Larchwood, IA, Diane (Alan Shave) Ripperda of Wichita Falls, TX and Karen (Gary) Van Wyhe of Rock Rapids, IA; seven grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; five sisters-in-law, Pearl Grotewold, Iona Eckhoff, Joyce Ver Meer, Clara Lewis and Helen Lewis; and many nieces, nephews and other family members. Leona was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Lewis; her parents, Frank and Grace Grotewold; five brothers; and one sister; great-grandson, Ethan Schacht; and daughter-in-law, Ann Lewis.