Robert Wilbur Lewis

Robert (Bob) W. Lewis, 89 of Rochester, MN, formerly of Park Rapids, MN and Austin, MN passed away Tuesday, January 8, 2013 of complications from Pneumonia and Congestive Heart Failure. Bob was born October 23, 1923 on the family farm in Berlin, ND to Grant E. and Nellie (Gates) Lewis. Bob married Shirley M. Cleveland on November 10, 1951 at the Little Brown Church in the Vale, Nashua, Iowa. Bob and Shirley lived in Austin, MN where they raised 5 daughters. After working for Hormel, Inc. in the Austin plant for 34 years, he retired to a life of fishing and hunting. They spent several years traveling out west. He and Shirley lived in Park Rapids, MN for over 25 years where they lived on Portage Lake. They moved to Rochester, MN 9 years ago to be closer to family. Bob was an avid fisherman and hunter. He loved to sing, play his harmonic and occasionally the banjo or accordion. He loved to tinker on old cars and engines and was known to make his own lawn/snow plow tractors out of junk parts from the dump. He loved to dance and made sure all his daughters knew how to dance as well. There wasn't anything he couldn't do once he put his mind to it and passed this belief onto his children. He is survived by his wife, Shirley M. (Cleveland), his daughters; Judy (Bob) Olson of Rochester, MN, Gayle (Gaylord) Thom, of Beresford, SD, Brenda Lewis, of Waseca, MN, Renee (Craig) Larson, of Detroit Lakes, Christine (Timothy) Gaffron, of Maple Grove, MN, Sharon K Lewis of Nisswa, MN. Yep, no boys..... Sister Ethel Tellock of California. Six Grandchildren: Julie, Tracy, Valerie, Alana (Nealy), Erik and Lauren Six Great Grandchildren: Wyatt, Joshua, Lydia, Abigail, Noah and Zander. He is preceded in death by his parents: Grant E. and Nellie (Gates) Lewis, Brothers, Lloyd, Everett and Ralph Lewis, sister Leona Spencer, Brother in Laws, Donald Tellock, Harold Avelsgard and Stuart Spencer, Sister in Law, Shirley Brownwell. Bob served in World War II in the Navy on the destroyer U.S.S. Willard Keith Bob was a very loving husband and father. He will always be singing in our hearts. Services will be held Friday, January 11, 2013 at the Ranfranz & Vine Funeral Homes 55th and 18th Ave NW Rochester, Minnesota 55901 Tel: 507-289-3600 Viewing will be at 12:00 noon, and Service at 1:00 pm. Burial will be at the Grandview Memorial Garden Cemetery in Austin, MN following the service and luncheon.