Winifred E. Lewis Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Sutton resident Winifred "Winnie" E. Lewis, 82, died after her courageous battle with cancer, at her home on Saturday, February 15, 2014, in Lincoln, NE with her family by her side. Services will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, February 20, 2014, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sutton, NE with Rev. Judy Nuss officiating. Interment will follow at the Sutton Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, from 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton, NE. Memorial Contributions may be directed to Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sutton, NE. Winnie was born February 9, 1932, in Atchison KS. She was the 8th in line of 9 children to the parents of Rev. John and Elsie Schmidt. She attended school in Potter, KS before moving to Ludell, KS where she attended parochial school through the 8th grade. She graduated from high school in Atwood, KS. and Jr. College in Winfield, KS. Winnie ventured to Chicago where she worked as a secretary/bookkeeper for 4 years before moving to Lincoln, NE where she also worked as a bookkeeper. On April 1, 1963, she married Philip Martin "Marty" Lewis Jr. and also gained a daughter Melanie, with this union. Marty & Winnie made Sutton, NE their home, where Winnie was a homemaker, mother and volunteered her time and talents to many causes. She served on the Sutton School Board, held various positions in the American Legion Auxiliary, volunteered for the county American Cancer Society (as she as was a survivor of cancer). Winnie was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church and the Women's group of the ELCA and served in almost any capacity to fill the needs within the church. In 2013, Winnie and Marty moved to the Grand Lodge at the Preserve - a retirement community in Lincoln, NE. Winnie is preceded in death by her parents, Rev. John T and Elsie Schmidt; 3 sisters, Mildred Morris, Elsie Fry and Ruth Lovett; 2 brothers, Milton Schmidt and Luther (Bud) Schmidt. Winnie is survived by her husband of 50 years, Philip Martin "Marty" Lewis Jr., of Lincoln, NE; sisters, Joan Engle of TX; Dorothy Wolters of KS; brother, Rev. John E. Schmidt of WI; Children, Melanie Lewis of Grafton, NE; Michele Serr and husband Steve of Grafton, NE; Vicki Kraai and husband Jon of Lincoln, NE; grandchildren, Kristine Serr and her daughter, Kayden both of Sutton, NE; Philip Serr of Grafton, NE; Abby Kuntz of Lincoln, NE; Emily Kraai of Lincoln, NE; and many nieces and nephews and extended family. We remember Winnie as a loving wife, mom, Grandma, Aunt, Godmother and friend. She touched the lives of everyone who knew her. She would always put the needs of others before herself and her strength in handling life is something we all admired about her.

Tributes

Winifred E. Lewis

February 9, 1932 - February 15, 2014