Jerry’s family will be hosting a Celebration of his Life from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, 2024 at Accura Healthcare of Carroll. Family will be present to share memories with friends and other relatives.
Jerry Lee Lewis, age 83 years of Westside, Iowa passed away at Accura Healthcare at Carroll, Iowa early on Saturday morning, January 27, 2024. Jerry was born on June 26, 1940 at Algona, Iowa to Robert F. and Doris E. (Batt) Lewis. He grew up in Burt and Algona, Iowa and also lived in Fort Dodge, Iowa for a number of years. Jerry was united in marriage to Sharon Askeland on December 11, 1960 at Westside. They later divorced. He was later married to Joan Conlon on July 17, 1976 at Westside. At the age of 25 Jerry was severely burned in a gas explosion and spent 2½ years in the burn ward at University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City, Iowa. Despite his injuries and impairments, Jerry found a way to do most everything he set his mind to.
Jerry worked most of his life as a Carpenter with his father, building homes throughout the state of Iowa and surrounding states. In fact, Jerry often said that they built more than 100 new homes throughout his career. One of Jerry’s largest passions in life was fishing, and for many years weekends off from work were spent at a lake or stream catching fish. His other hobbies included woodworking and making wooden yard art, computers, gardening and sharing his produce and homemade horseradish sauce with others, grilling with his own homemade barbecue sauce, watching baseball and football. In later years he used his mobility scooter to get the mail, snacks at the convenience store (Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups), and visiting with those he met along the way.
Jerry was a longtime member of the Community Of Christ Church in Denison, Iowa, and attended faithfully until his health limited his being able to travel there. When his parents were alive, he made sure they were able to attend weekly after his Dad was no longer able to drive.
Survivors include his wife, Joan Lewis of Carroll, Iowa; three daughters: Juanita Henson of Rangely, Colorado, Ronda (& Dan) Conway of Davenport, Washington and Sonja Conway of Davenport, Washington; one step-daughter: Candace Huft of Westside, Iowa; three step-sons: Fred Brown (& Fiance’ Jennifer Grimes) of Arizona, Rick (& Donna) Brown of Texas, and John Reising of Nebraska; 24 gandchildren, 58 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren; two sisters: JoAnn (& Dennis) Hanson of Boone, Iowa and Jeanette (& Bill) Greteman of Westside, Iowa; two brothers: Richard (& Ruth) Lewis of Des Moines, Iowa and Terry (& Paulette) Lewis of Great Bend, Kansas; numerous nieces and nephews.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, one chosen daughter (Cynthia Blanco), one grandson (Scotty Lewis), three sons-in-law (David Bowlds, Steve Henson, and Mike Conway), four brothers and one sister in infancy (John Paul, James Dean, LeRoy Keith, Robert Gene and Delores Eileen Lewis) and one brother (Donald Dale Lewis).
Cremation has been chosen and a Celebration of Life Service will be held by the family at a later date. Memorials may be made in care of your favorite charity and directed to Jeanette Greteman, PO Box 81, Westside, IA 51467.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Jerry’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
