Lawrence Richard Lewis

On September 23, 2024, God called Lawrence Richard Lewis, 94, to leave this earth, loving family and friends, to return to his heavenly home.

Larry, as he was known, was born of Dutch heritage. His mother, Bertha Dykehouse, had a premonition that the man she would someday marry would travel by sea and arrive by train, and so it was. Larry’s father, Netherlander Gysbertus Leeuwis, immigrated to Ellis Island at the Port of New York as a youth, became a US citizen, and later Americanized his name to Gilbert Lewis. The Lewis’ ultimately purchased acreage in the rural town of Vicksburg, Michigan, managing dairy cattle and crops. By the time Larry was born, June 15, 1930, America had already launched into The Great Depression. It was in this desperate economic environment that young Larry, third child of four, learned responsibility. His siblings—Albert (Patricia), Adeline and Andrew (Marlene)—have preceded him in death; their wives survive.

From his earliest childhood, Larry reveled in the outdoors. He possessed a certain wonder of “nature”, seeing beauty and the color of life all around him; green became his favorite color. He never failed to notice the veined nuances in the shades of foliage, nor would he miss the dappled sunlight that streamed through the trees upon a woodland floor. On any given day, he would call out the drama of the clouds in an ever-changing mood of the sky.

Larry also had an uncanny magnetism in voice and manner toward the natural instincts of animals. He trained horses in this way, never by force, but by gentle voice and quiet trust. Even a bristly haired pig found the boy worth greeting with squeals of delight upon spotting his keeper descending from a school bus at day’s end. Throughout his decades, animals of one kind or another, domesticated or wild, big and small, would find respite with Larry, unless of course, it was a nuisance to the farm or good eatin’! Dozens of dogs would come alongside Master Lewis throughout the years, but by far his favorite breed was the German Shepherd. In the sunset of his days, Larry made a shift to rescue a white Chinese Crested Powderpuff, who was Larry’s equal in dog years and for whom he adored.

In tandem with dogs came horses and on horses came cowboys in all their apparel and Larry wore the western cut well—dress or casual—boots, hat, and even tailored pearl-buttoned shirts on occasion. In his boyish spirit was the Wild West of yesteryear, but his shy heart contained soft, sweet chords of love songs, songs that only his now vintage Gibson guitar can echo. Alone in his room or in his Country Western band, the hand that once picked and strummed moves no more.

Larry’s heart may have failed, but his spirit was stubborn and strong. Perhaps a contributing factor was the fact that when he graduated from Vicksburg High School in 1948, he was the smallest boy in his class. A short time thereafter, he grew into a strapping young lad of 6 ft, 170 lbs., driving a Standard Oil truck as the local route man.

In June 1950, the Korean War ensued and able-bodied men were drafted into the US Armed Forces and so went Larry in 1951. This man’s man who could hunt deer and elk did not want to find himself face-to-face with his fellow man on enemy lines. Rival inductees and officers vied for “top of the class”, but Larry’s brilliant mind wrought the highest score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test. Thus, he was privileged to enroll in the Quartermaster Corps Medical Field Training School. He became a medic a in a newly created division, Preventative Medicine Control, a strategy to restore war-torn Japan more quickly to a healthy economy. Larry found himself at the Port of Kobe, a rear base for US military supplies and transit of soldiers. There, at a local PX, a store selling goods to military personnel, Larry became enamored with a bright-eyed Japanese clerk with a Pan Am smile named Yoko Sato, who spoke conversational English.

A romance ensued and on October 31, 1952, at the age of 22, Larry married Yoko. The soldier, Cpl Lawrence R Lewis, was then Honorably Discharged from US Army active duty and transferred to AMEDS, USAR, Ready Reserve with high marks: Character = “Excellent”; Efficiency = “Superior”. Ever the farmer and country boy, the couple returned stateside to hometown Vicksburg. Larry partnered with his father and brothers in home construction (Gilbert & Sons) and after establishing a life for his family, Larry, with experience and capable ways, built a contemporary ranch home in 1967-68 with the aid of skilled brothers and neighbors.

To support his family, Larry sought employment at the pharmaceutical manufacturing plant, The Upjohn Company. Larry was a voracious reader with an almost unquenchable thirst for knowledge and truth. He indentured himself to the company with his natural engineering acumen, completing available training, college courses and trade correspondence in all matters electronic and electrical, including computers. By today’s jargon, Larry could be labeled a “geek” as he eagerly accepted hardware and software challenges. This being said, he possessed rare interpersonal skills less common in technological fields. An incredibly patient listener, he also possessed masterful timing in his razor-sharp wit. Ultimately, Larry reached management status as Director of Corporate Engineering Automation and Instrumentation.

Sadly, the Homefront did not reflect a similar success. Larry and Yoko remained married for 28 yrs and had 2 daughters: Linda Kay (Daniel Ray) Hartley, who survives, and Carol Jean who died in infancy. Yoko’s elder sister, Fusako, married a soldier from Michigan as well and so Larry has a niece, Nancy Maskus Clark (Tom deceased) and a nephew, James (Kristin) Maskus, surviving from that union. The sisters, Fusako and Yoko, precede Larry’s death. The Hartley name brings the addition of Dan’s sons Joseph (Valerie) and Benjamin as grandsons, as well as great-grandchild, Ivy Goerlitz.

Larry was always there to support each member of the Lewis family—of paternal father, Albert, nephew, Gilbert, precedes in death. Surviving are Larry (Denise) and Michael (Leslie); of paternal father, Andrew, surviving are David (Candy), Carolyn (Brian) Kitzmiller, Gary (Karin), Diann (Jeff) Roodbergen, and Daniel (Lynette), each with children of their own and some extending in family. Larry was enchanted by all.

Larry was an ever abiding and supportive patriarch, especially as father and stepfather. There became a blending of families short of Larry’s retirement whereby he reconnected with fellow graduate, then widowed, Beverly Butler Francisco. Sparks flew and life renewed for the near 50-somethings, Larry & Bev, who married on December 27, 1980. It was in 1989, after 35 years of dedication to his career that Larry retired. Together, he and Bev found purpose in the seasons shared, full and fruitful for 39 years enjoying farm, family, friends and travel adventures. Together, they served God and the community: Gideons International, Kids Hope USA Mentor Program, as well as endless and generous expressions of kindness and support where and when needed. Larry appeared to be born to lead. Certainly, at times he could be a force to be reckoned with as father, elder, school board member, or as the ever-conservative Republican. He and Bev are survived by their son, Roger (Donna) Francisco, daughter, Diane (Brian) Boerman, and grandchildren: Nicholas Boerman, Alexis Francisco, Kennedy Francisco, and Kevin Francisco.

Larry consistently lived and worked as a principled man of integrity, always in search of the truth based on God’s Word. He taught by example. When his time came, he carried himself with dignity and strength. He finished well in humility, wisdom and compassion and these virtues live on in the family he embraced whether by blood or because they were given or chosen. His goal was to be remembered as “kind and fair.” Larry, we think you succeeded! “Enter into the joy of your LORD.” Thank you for being a part of our lives.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Larry's honor may be made to The Gideons International - Kalamazoo South Camp, PO Box 1543, Portage, MI 49081, or Centrica Care Navigators, 7100 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49009.