"As a friend of Gary I am saddened to see the death of your father. He was truly an amazing man on so many levels and his life and accomplishments are astounding. "
In loving memory of
George Jacob Lewis
July 14, 2019
George Jacob Lewis, age 88, of Quincy, died peacefully and surrounded by family, on Sunday, July 14, 2019, at Good Samaritan Home in Quincy.
George was born August 17, 1930 in Rushville, Illinois, to parents Dana Mendel Lewis and Gladys Elizabeth Hersman Lewis.
He was raised working on his family's farm in Hersman, Illinois (named after his great-grandfather, Jacob Hersman). He graduated from Brown County High School in Mt. Sterling in 1948.
In high school, among his many activities and interests including basketball and working on the school newspaper, he was president of his class and president of the Science Club. He was a county and state Outstanding 4-H Club member and a delegate to the National 4-H Club Congress. He won 15 local, district, and state I.H.S.A. public speaking contests. George was also very active with F.F.A. (Future Farmers of America), serving as chairman on the State Champion F.F.A. Parliamentary Procedure Team. He won the National/Regional F.F.A. Public Speaking Contest and placed 4th in the National F.F.A. Public Speaking Finals. He was the president of the local chapter of F.F.A. as well as the State F.F.A. president. He accomplished all of this by the time he was 18 years old.
After high school, George stayed home on the farm and was awarded his American Farmer Degree (an F.F.A. distinction). He was a junior leader of the local 4-H club, and he was ultimately elected as the national president of F.F.A. As president, he assisted with organizing the F.F.A. of Japan, and he toured the U.S. fulfilling the extensive duties of a national officer. He even visited the White House to meet with President Harry Truman. The relationships created between George and the five other national officers were bonds which endured the rest of his life.
In 1951, George was active in "The Campaign Among Youth For Support of International Christian University In Japan". He won the North American essay contest resulting in being one of two youth in North America to represent this group on a trip to Japan. He appeared before the Emperor of Japan and attended the opening of the new university near Tokyo. George, being the bright young man that he was, seized this opportunity to marry his high school sweetheart, and use the voyage to Japan as a honeymoon as well. On June 19, 1951, George married Joan Garrison, daughter of attorney Franklin Davis Garrison Sr. and Lillian Louise Brown Garrison. They were married one month shy of 66 years when she passed away on May 8, 2017.
George also excelled in other religious activities. He was moderator of the local youth organization, Westminster Fellowship. He was elected moderator of Presbytery in State, and National Westminster Fellowship. George was president of the State Interdenominational Christian Youth Organization, delegate to World Conference of I.C.Y.O. in Toronto, Canada, and executive director of the State I.C.Y.O. for one year (unpaid).
As a student at the University of Illinois, he was elected to the board of directors of the university Y.M.C.A.. He graduated with high honors and a B.S. degree in Agricultural Science. He was an honor student in the College of Law, and he was designated as a Fullbright Scholar to conduct legal research and study Law for a year at the University of London. Besides earning a certificate of completion from the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London, George and Joan later co-authored a book detailing their adventure, "Rolling in the Isles".
On the Lewises return from England, George reported for active duty with the United States Air Force, where he "fought the Battle of Topeka" (as he called it), as a procurement officer. While there, he also took night classes at the Washburn Univeristy Law School. He was a member of the Kansas Bar Journal Review Board and authored an article in the Kansas Bar Journal on "Law and Electronics". After two years he was honorably discharged as a Captain, as well as advancing his education in Law, eventually earning a J.D. degree from the College of Law at the University of Illinois. He accomplished all of this before his 28th birthday.
In 1958 he moved his family to Quincy and commenced practicing law, where he did so successfully for 57 years. George was the senior partner in his law firm, which once had offices in Quincy, Mt. Sterling, and Rushville. He served as vice president of the Adams County Bar Association; as a member of the Illinois and American Bar Associations; and served as chairman of the Illinois State Bar Association Committee for Legal Research by Electronics.
In 1970 George was elected as a delegate to the Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention and served by appointment of the president as chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Convention. In that capacity, he contributed to the re-writing of the Illinois Constitution.
In 1980, he ran for state Senate, just falling short against the 48th District incumbent, Mary Lou Kent. Many now claim that his loss was Quincy's win, due to the continued contributions he made by remaining a local fixture.
His contributions to the community during 60 years in Quincy are too numerous to document, and he would be terribly embarrassed to see his obituary containing anything more than his accomplishments while a member of F.F.A., BUT here are just a few:
- President of Adams County Heart Association
- Member of the Board of Directors of Good Samaritan Home
- One of five who organized the first workshop and social center for
disabled adults in Adams County and served as president of the Board of
Directors
- Provided volunteer service as the attorney for Home Ownership Assistance
of Quincy, Inc., a not for profit organization active in Quincy slum
clearance projects and development of new low cost housing for low
income families
- Member of Adams County Mental Health Board
- Member of the Advisory Council of Quincy High School Vocational Agricultural Department
- Member of the Board of Directors of Adams County Family Service Agency
- Member of Quincy Noon Optimists and active on numerous community projects
- Member of Rotary East
- Appointed by the mayor and served seven years as a member of Quincy's
Equal Opportunity Commission and was chairman of the commission for two
years
- Member and elder of the First United Presbyterian Church of Quincy and now member of the Ellington Presbyterian Church
- Member of the Board of Directors Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County
- Appointed as chair to the first Human Rights Commission
- Long time contributing speaker on DUI impact panels
- Member of the Board of Directors and on the Executive Committee of the Great River Economic
Development Foundation (GREDF)
- Volunteer in the local mentor program for 5th & 6th graders until his recent
health problems
While serving the local community, George also found time for other interests including bridge clubs, dominoes, photography, gardening, landscaping, antiques, volunteering to help install shallow wells in Malawi, Africa with the Marion Medical Mission, enjoying family and friends, and exploring numerous countries throughout the world's seven continents.
George is survived by children Karen (Stephen) Forte of Bend, OR; Sheri (Mike) Jackson of Littleton, CO; and Gary (Debby Davis) Lewis of Quincy; Grandchilden: Paul (Jennifer) Forte of Bend, OR; Michael (Stephanie Wuerth) Forte of Oakland, CA; Jesse Jackson of Spokane Valley, WA; and Mikki Jackson of Littleton, CO. He also step-grandfathered many step-grand and step-great-grandchildren. Further survivors are brothers and sisters: Jean Delap; Ruth Henderson; Dana (Anita) Lewis; Dick (Cheri Lee) Lewis; Charles (Marney) Lewis; Anne Ford; and Mary (Jack) Garland; numerous cousins, and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife Joan Garrison Lewis, he was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Ronda Kay Lewis; a brother, John Lewis; brothers-in-law, John Henderson, Keith Delap, and Dave Ford; and sister-in-law, Katherine "Kay" Rose Governale Lewis.
A special thank you goes out to the medical personnel and support staff at Blessing Hospital and the McReynolds Unit at Good Samaritan Home.
Services: 10:00 am on Friday, July 19, 2019 at Ellington Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Ron Cox officiating.
Burial: Hersman Cemetery
Visitation: 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Thursday, July 18, 2019 at the Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.
Memorials: Hersman, Andrews, Lewis Program Revolving Scholarship Fund,
Doctors Without Boarders, Marion Medical Mission, Professor James B. (Jerry) and Elizabeth (Bess) Andrews Memorial Allerton Park Endowment Fund (checks payable to Allerton Park)
www.hansenspear.com
Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.
Tributes
"We met George when he became involved in the Friends of the Log Cabins, offering advice when needed and encouragement. We're glad we had the opportunity to know him. He will be missed. John & Betty Gebhardt"
"George will be missed. What a nice guy and a great lawyee"
"I met George when I was but a young pogue at the practice of law. He was always courteous and considerate. Later I moved to Brown County to take the bench. Then we had the obvious Hersman connection. Frankly, I can't think of an attorney I admired more. He was truly a great citizen and an example to us all that giving was far more important than taking. David Slocum"
"Such a wonderful person who will be missed by so many. My thoughts, prayers, and deep sympathy go to George's family and friends. "
"George was such a warm and generous man, a person of integrity, funny and gentle and wise and perceptive. His spirit lives on in the many people whose lives he touched. Please accept my condolences. Amy Simpson"
"Uncle George was a big part of my childhood memories. He and Aunt Joan were so loving and full of life. My cousins, their children, were an absolute delight, then and now. Being a part of their family made my life better. My uncle's curiosity about people, family and life was insatiable. I loved and respected him dearly. He will be sorely missed. "
"To our extended Lewis Family members: Great Uncle George will always be just that...Great. He was a great husband, great father, great grandfather, great lawyer and professional, great mentor, great teacher and great companion in life, as Great Aunt Joan knew oh so well. I was a better person for having known him, having spent time with him, and was so pleased for my wife Yuki to have gotten the chance on several occasions as well. His gregarious spirit, love of the camera to capture life's moments, world travels, and dedication to family will all live on in you, moreso than such memories and characteristics still certainly will in us who got to share just a fraction of your time with him. Take solace at his departure in his life well lived as a partner to Aunt Joan, and in his ability to rejoin her now. Warmest love and sympathies to you all. Brad and Yuki Pirolo"