Frederick Lewis

Frederick William Lewis, 89, died at home early
Sunday morning after a long battle with prostate cancer.

A loving husband to Joyce, role model father to Kelly, David (Kristi),
and Dan (Candace), mischievous, and fun-loving grandfather to Jordyn,
Zack, Danielle, and Trevor, and a friend to many, he will be sorely
missed. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio to Myrtle (Briggs) and
Frederick Lewis and is survived by his brothers Don, Merle, and
Raymond, sister Charlotte (Leonard), numerous nieces and nephews
and preceded in death by his brother Robert.

Fred was a proud but very humble WWII veteran, serving in the Argus
Division of the Navy. He was employed by Republic Steel, and lived in
Liberia, West African until moving to Rogers City, Michigan in 1975,
where he was employed at Stoneport until he retired. Fred was a
dedicated community servant, a 2 term mayor, city councilman,
Lions Club officer, Treasurer of the Presque Isle food pantry, and was
instrumental in getting the Little League baseball fields built.
He loved Rogers City, this community, and the people who lived here,
despite loving to complain about the long, cold winters!!

When his cancer spread and he knew the end was near, he approached it
with grace, dignity and even a little humor, He was joyful about having
had a full, rich life rather than being sad about having to dic. He was a
voracious reader, passionate about fishing / hunting, fixing Sunday
morning breakfasts and Ohio State football. He kept the local library in
business until we bought him a Kindle. He was suspicious, resistant and
stubborn to this modern technology at first, but eventually it never left
his side. He loved to tell and hear a good story (preferably over a single
malt scotch), and was quite the prankster. He spent hours on the phone
with his brother Ray watching and discussing play by play action of his
beloved Buckeyes. When Ohio State scored, he would prank call his
Michigan friends, play the Ohio State fight song, and hang up (sorry,
Dad, your secret is out), When he was asked to modify his diet and
restrict his salt intake, he was heard to say “life is not worth living if I
can’t have butter on my tomato sandwiches (white, bread of course) and
my eggs fried in bacon grease.”

We will miss the twinkle in his eye, his penchant for a good story, his
quiet strength and his heart the size of Texas. He was, indeed, a good,
good man. As he always liked to say, “my favorite thing to do is to go
where I’ve never gone, with no fixed plan nor intent of arriving … let’s
take a different route home,” Godspeed, Dad.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sat. Oct 19th at 11:30 AM at the
Westminster Presbyterian Church in Rogers City, Michigan. A luncheon
to honor and celebrate his life will be held immediately afterwards at the
Rogers City Senior Center, a place that he firmly believed in, was
instrumental in establishing, and very fond of gathering with his buddies
for a little euchre and story telling.

Rogers City VFW Post 607 will accord military honors immediately
following church services.

Inurnment will take place at Fort Custer National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to:
Hospice of the Sunrise Shore, 2078 W. M-32, Alpena, MI 49707;
Presque Isle County Food Pantry, c/o Westminster Church,
125 W. Ontario, Rogers City, MI 49779; or
Friends Together Cancer Support, 105 Prentiss St., Alpena, MI 49707.