Byron Funeral Home
On this day, May 9, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. SSGT-Ret Robert Archie Lewis answered his last call to duty at Pine Haven Care Facility in Pine Island, Mn.
Robert (Bob) was born in Stevens Point, WI on January 5, 1937, to his parents Ruth Janet (Holman) and Archie Bernard Lewis. While working for the Railroad Company they moved to various places and states. Daughter Janet Ruth was born to them in Chicago, Il., and they then moved back to Watertown, SD. There Bob and Janet grew and attended the Watertown school system.
In his senior year Bob joined the National Guard Unit in Watertown and in 1956 he entered the US Marine Corps, attending Boot Camp in Camp Pendleton, CA. While on leave in SD he met the love of his life, Joan Snaza of Grenville. Upon his return to Camp he received orders to go to Okinawa for two years. Was given a two week leave before being deployed, returned to the Midwest and they married in St. Paul, MN on October 8, 1958. Marine families could not be with the military so Joan remained in St Paul, working at Remington Rand till Bob returned in January, 1960; working at Oliver Tractor Co, Mpls, Joan worked for MN Hwy, and MNDNR. In 1965 they moved to Zumbrota, MN., where he worked for Oliver and John Deere , then they were employed by the City of Rochester. He worked for RPU, and retired Jan 5, 2002.
He and son Craig joined the Rochester 79th Military Police Reserve Unit, then Craig was deployed to Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Bob continued to the 336th MP Det (CF) Army Reserve, and worked on and drove Army tanks at the Twin City Arsenal, New Brighton, MN. Son Brian, was a Marine in Cuba, 4 grandchildren in service. He retired after serving 28 years combined military service.
Bob was a 3rd & 4th Degree Member of the Byron/Kasson KofC, known for their delicious Lent Fish Fries. Survivors are his wife, Joan, sons, Craig, Spring Valley, MN and Brian (Penny Hill), Dow City, Ia.,daughter Sharon, Canton, MN, grandchildren: Kyle Anthony and Shannon Ashley Sagan, Archie HF and Ashley (Lewis) Dudley, Cainon Phillip and Nelda Dawn (Lewis) Ruebush; Great-Grandchildren: Gemma Josephine and Harlee Marie Tueffel, Isaac Garth and Damian Dudley, and Kinsleigh Zania Rys., sister Shirley (James) Swanson, many nieces & nephews, Special Aunt Florence Pederson, Lakewood, Co., brother-in-law Dean Zemlicka, Apple Valley, Ca. , cousins and special family friend, Michael Bodenheim. Preceded by his parents, sister Janet Zemlicka, grandparents, many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Due to the Pandemic restrictions the burial of Bob's ashes with Military Honors will be held in the MN State Veterans Cemetery, Preston, MN at a later date.
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