Alan Lewis

Alan Robert Lewis, age 50 of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, formerly of Larchwood, IA, died Friday July 2nd at Daugherty Hospice House, in Sioux Falls. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 6, 2010, at St. Marys Catholic Church in Larchwood, IA, with Fr. Jeff Schliesman, celebrating. Burial will follow in the Larchwood Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, July 5th from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. at St. Marys Catholic Church in Larchwood, IA with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. A parish wake service will be Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. at St. Marys Catholic Church in Larchwood Alan Lewis, was born on December 15, 1959, in Sioux City, IA, to Robert Bob and Rita (Ripperda) Lewis. He was raised on the family farm in Larchwood, IA. Alan graduated from West Lyon High School in 1978, where he was a member of the Wildcat football team, concert band, jazz band, and marching band. On April 11, 1981, Alan was united in marriage to Kathleen Uphoff, of Spencer, SD. They were blessed with two sons, Jeffrey and Jared, as a family they started out in Larchwood and then later moved to Spirit Lake, IA. In 1985, his job with Interior Wood Products started what would turn into a lifelong career in the lumber industry. From there, Alan would work for Jordan Millwork/Jeld-Wen, Wausau Supply, Spencer Lumber, and most recently Builders Millwork. Alan was involved within the community, playing TAPS at military funerals as a young man, serving on the Larchwood City Council, and St. Marys renovation committee of Spirit Lake, IA. Alan was a true family man, coaching and cheering for his sons, Jeff & Jared, in soccer, track and cross-country. Alan spent much of his free-time outdoors hunting, snowmobiling, boating, trap shooting, golfing, bicycling and was fully involved in his own building projects. He especially loved racing, attending sprint car races, and became involved with his sons in go-cart racing, where his role as mechanic and coach, suited him well. Alans family and friends will remember his ability to debate any issue, and to tell the best stories. Because of his great presence in a crowd, Alan will be deeply missed by all. Grateful to have shared his life are his wife Kathy, sons Jeff and wife, Alexa, Omaha, Nebraska and Jared, Watertown, South Dakota; parents Bob & Rita Lewis, Larchwood, Iowa; sisters Cindy (Dan) Nagel, Larchwood, Iowa; Leann (John Hayward) Lewis, Arlington, Texas; father-in-law & mother-in-law Gene & Jackie Uphoff, Salem, South Dakota; sister-in-law & brother-in-law Mary & Todd Reif, Lynd, Minnesota; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Mark & Irina Uphoff, Smyrna, Georgia; grandchildren Isabelle & Aleks, Omaha, NE; and nieces, nephews and other family members. Preceded in death by grandparents Clarence and Ann Ripperda and George and Emma Lewis; and brother-in-law Randy Childress.