Irene Lewis

Irene Wesa Lewis, 88, died Friday, March 19, 2010, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

Mrs. Lewis was born Oct. 4, 1921, in Menahga, Minn., the daughter of William and Hilma Hilton Wesa. She grew up in the Finnish community of Hibbing, Minn., and attended the Finnish Lutheran Church.

She graduated from Hibbing High School in 1939. After graduation from Hibbing Junior College, she moved to Washington, D.C., to work in the Pentagon for three years as a secretary in the War Department. While there she met her future husband, Coxswain Frank M. Lewis, whom she married Feb. 1, 1944, in Ventura, Calif. After the war ended, the couple lived in Conneaut, Ohio.

In 1948, Irene and Frank Lewis with their daughter, Lynette, came to Cape Girardeau to join the family business of Wimpy's Inc. at 800 N. Kingshighway. Only one year later their newly-built house at 902 N. West End Blvd. was destroyed by the May 1949 tornado.

Mrs. Lewis was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. She was an active square dancer, swimmer and duplicate bridge player.

Irene is survived by two daughters, Lynette Williamson of St. Louis, Kathleen Fishel of Gainesville, Fla.; a son, Duane Lewis of Southaven, Miss.; a sister, Frances Arndt of Hibbing; four grandchildren, Bryant Williamson of St. Louis, Alayna Nordstrom of West Kilbride, Scotland, Jenny Lane and Derrick Wesa Lewis, both of Southaven; four great-grandsons, Andrew and Cooper Lewis of Southaven, Eric Nordstrom of West Kilbride, Scotland, Charles Taylor Lane of Southaven.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

Friends may call from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Karen Dumey officiating. Burial will be in Cape Girardeau County Memorial Park.

Memorials to Westminister Presbyterian Church, Cape Girardeau, are preferred. Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.