04/27/2019 - Claude J. Lewis

Memorial services for Claude J. Lewis, age 97, of Crawford, NE will be at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at the United Methodist Church in Crawford, NE with Pastor Tim McCrary officiating.

Inurnment will be at the Crawford City Cemetery.

A memorial has been established for the Crawford Fire Department or the United Methodist Church in Crawford. Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.

Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com.

Claude passed to his heavenly family on April 17, 2019 at the Ponderosa Villa in Crawford, NE. He was born on April 2, 1922 to Claude D. and Mamie Jane (Weatherford) Lewis, the third of nine children. He was born in Pittsylvania County, VA at the family home where his family had lived for decades.

Claude worked in the family tobacco fields while attending school. In 1940,  when he was 18, he enlisted in the Army, and did his basic training at Ft. Bragg, NC. He was promised that he would complete basics and home with his family for Christmas. On Dec. 24, 1940, his troop train arrived at Fort Robinson, NE. While at Fort Robinson he met Helen Waldron who also worked at the Fort. Claude was sent to Ft. Reno, OK, and on Oct. 16, 1943, Helen joined him and they were married. Shortly after their marriage, Claude was sent to Camp Indian Bay, FL to help develop K-Rations and test clothing that would not rot in the heat and humidity of the South Sea Islands. From Florida he was sent to Camp Swift, TX where he became a member of the newly formed 10th Mountain Division. The 10th Mountain Division was known for skiing and climbing. The climbing division was very successful and known for climbing and conquering. The 10th Mountain Division was sent to Italy, arriving in Naples, Italy in 1944. They became famous for taking a German stronghold by climbing a shear cliff
on RIVA Ridge, Italy. Claude was wounded in the Poe Valley, but chose to stay with the 10th until they all were shipped back to the USA.

Following the war years, Claude returned to Nebraska where he and Helen made their home. Three children were born to Claude and Helen...their daughter Barbara and sons Ken and Rick. He owned and operated Lewis Mobil and later he worked for the Nebraska State Historical Society. Following Helen's passing in 1976, Claude remarried Marjorie Whorlow, who was a teacher in Lyons, NE. They married on July 24, 1977, and Claude gained four stepchildren, Rod, Rosadele, John, and Diane.

Claude loved to hunt and polish rocks, travel, fish, bird watch, hunt deer and pheasant, tell stories, sing, play with his grand and great-grandkids, but most of all, he loved his family.

Claude is survived by daughter Barbara (Bob) Goldman of Scottsbluff, NE; sons Kenny (Jackie) of Elizabeth, CO and Rick (Wendy) of Alliance, NE; brother Esta of Danville, VA; sister Mozelle of Reidsville, NC; 7 grandchildren;11 great-grandchildren; and four stepchildren.

Claude was preceded in death by seven siblings, both wives, and best friends
and neighbors Gene and Thera Wasserburger.

Chamberlain Chapel is in charge of arrangements is in charge of arrangements for Claude J. Lewis.