Robert Russell Lewis

Robert Russell Lewis was born on June 21, 1927 on the family farm north of Valley, Nebraska to Russell and Erma (Brown) Lewis. He grew up on the farm, attended District #22 country school and graduated from Valley High School in 1944. Bob enlisted in the United States Marine Corp in 1945 and served his country for three years. As a young boy, Bob enjoyed football and baseball but spent a good deal of his time on the farm and driving truck for the area farmers. Bob married Delores Renter on January 2, 1953 at the Baptist-Presbyterian Church in Valley, Nebraska and to this union four children were born: Robert II, Nancy, Sandy and Rich. Bob and Delores have raised their family in Valley and on January 2, 2008, celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. Bob went to work for Valmont Industries where he remained for 42 years before retiring in 1993. Bob was known as “Hipper” to his friends and co-workers. He was a very dedicated employee and held many positions through the years, including Supervisor. Bob enjoyed playing horseshoes, fishing, hunting, bowling, gardening and traveling. He particularly enjoyed his fishing trips and pheasant trips, being on the go with outside activities and trips to AKSARBEN and Grand Island for the races. To give you an idea of what kind of person he was, during one of his fishing trips with Delores, by Johnson Lake near the canal, Bob noticed a little boy slip on the rocks and fall into the canal. The current started pulling the little boy under so Bob ran over and jumped in the canal to rescue the panicked little boy. Bob pulled the boy back toward shore and pushed him out, but Bob was too exhausted to pull himself back in, so Delores threw her coat out and help pull him back in. Later on that day the boy’s family found Bob and thanked him. Bob loved to barbeque, cook, and bake. He was always trying to figure out a way to make even the simplest task easier. He was a member of the United Faith Community Church in Valley, as well as a member of the American Legion Post #58 and Masonic Victory Lodge #310 AF & AM. Bob passed away on Saturday, January 12, 2008 at the Hospice House in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 80 years, 6 months and 22 days. He was preceded in death by his parents Russell and Erma. Bob is survived by his wife Delores of Valley, Nebraska; sons and daughters-in law Robert II and Diane of Valley and Rich and Kathy of Yutan, Nebraska; daughters Nancy Lewis of Valley and Sandy Lewis of Valley; 5 grandchildren, Cory Lewis and wife Marcy of Valley, Lisa Vincik and husband, Andy, of Orange County, California, Jake, Jeff and Josh Lewis of Yutan, Nebraska; 2 great grandchildren; Kayla and Rylan Lewis of Valley, Nebraska; brother and sister-in-law Ed and Joyce Lewis of Valley; sisters and brothers-in-law Frances and Charlie Zaugg of Yutan and Delores and Lloyd Woodworth of Omaha, Nebraska. Courtesy of Reichmuth Funeral Home