Maxine Lewis

MAXINE R. LEWIS

Cedar Rapids

Maxine R. Lewis, 100, of Cedar Rapids, our beloved, kind and gentle mother and grandmother, passed away on Monday, May 29, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. Services: 11 a.m. Sunday, June 4, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories, where a visitation begins at 10 a.m. A graveside service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Wellman Cemetery in Wellman.

Survivors include a daughter, Nancy (Dale) Stout of Cedar Rapids; a son, Jim (Diane) Lewis of Marion; her grandchildren, Jamey Stout, Molly (Phil) Tschopp, Jeff (Molly) Stout, Joe (Brooke) Stout, Brian (Martha) Lewis, Amy (Paul) Schrader, Katie Lewis, Susie (Rob) Lee, Daniel, Ben, Joseph, Erica, Nicole, Christopher, Isabelle, Maya, Marcos, Charlie, Grace and Bruce Lewis; and her great- grandchildren, Theo, Zela and Marina Tschopp, Milo and Wren Stout, Annie and Bella Stout, Wyatt and Ellie Schrader, Sofia Lewis and Katelyn and Joshua Lee.

She was preceded in death by her parents; beloved husband of 62 years, Wayne Lewis; infant son, Tommy Lewis; and brother, Byrl Gillespie.

Maxine was born Nov. 20, 1916, in Arkle, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Ethel (Malin) Gillespie. She grew up in Elberon, Iowa, where she graduated from high school. She then graduated from Paris Beauty Academy in Cedar Rapids, where she met her lifelong friend, Marcia Robertson. Marcia and Maxine operated a beauty shop in Wellman until World War II. On Jan. 10, 1942, she married Wayne E. Lewis in Omaha, Neb. As Wayne served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the war, Maxine joined "Rosie the Riveter" ranks, building aircraft while living in California. After the war, they moved to Wellman and for many years, she helped Wayne in the family business, the Lewis Cafe. Later they moved to Cedar Rapids, where she worked at The Gazette for many years in classified advertising.

Maxine loved playing golf, cooking, and was an excellent seamstress. She and Wayne loved to square dance. Her love for cooking left her well-known for her homemade noodles, cookies, the "best" brownies and "surprise" black cherry Jello.

Her family was very important to her and the time spent with her grandchildren was priceless.

Please leave a message for the family on the webpage www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.

Memorials may be made to Camp Courageous in Maxine's memory.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Mark Hogenson, Dr. James Bell and the staff of UnityPoint Hospice for their compassion and care given. They also would like to give a special thanks to the staff of Cottage Grove Place for the loving care they gave to Maxine.