Donald E. Lewis
MIDDLETON–Donald "Don" Edward Lewis, 88, passed away peacefully on Dec. 8, 2022. He was born in Madison on Feb. 16, 1934, the son of Dewey and Clara (Meier) Lewis.
Don graduated from Madison West High School in 1952 and later attended Madison Business College. He volunteered to join the United States Marine Corps from 1954-1957. After basic training in San Diego, CA. Don was stationed at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC and he also enjoyed his service time in Okinawa, Japan.
He married his High School sweetheart, Betty Jean Pyle on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 1957, at the Memorial Church of Christ in Madison. Don worked at Webcrafters Printing Company in Madison for 39 years as a production manager and volunteered his time to the Meals on Wheels program for many years.
Don and Betty travelled around the world both before and after his retirement from Webcrafters. They had visited Europe many times, including London, Paris, and Rome, along with the Caribbean, China, and Hawaii. They also liked wintertime visits to Clearwater and St. Augustine, FL. In his younger years, Don played tennis and he loved to play golf with Webcrafters Golf League and on weekends with friends.
He was a fantastic piano player. Some of his happiest times were spent playing the piano at family gatherings as the grand kids would make requests. His family speaks of him as the sweetest man they had ever known.
Don is survived by his daughter, Kimberly (Tim) Rhode of Sun Prairie; his sons, Scott (Misty) Lewis of Middleton, Mark (Julie) Lewis of Algonquin, IL; his 9 cherished grandchildren; Douglas, Nickolas, Hallie, and Heather Rhode, Cameron, Caden, and Cole, Kayla and Brock Lewis and his brother Bill (Carol) Lewis of Phoenix, AZ. He was preceded in death by his parents Dewey and Clara; and his wife Betty (Sept. 29, 2021).
A gathering of family and friends was held from 1-3 p.m. followed by a celebration of life service (which was live-streamed on the Internet) at 3 p.m. on Dec. 15, 2022 at the Cress Funeral Home, 6021 University Ave., Madison, which served the grieving family.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials in Don’s name be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, or the Dane County Humane Society at 5132 Voges Road, Madison, WI, 53718. Please share your memories at cressfuneralservice.com.
