J. David "Dave" Lewis, M.D., 69, formerly of West Bend, died on June 3 in Sarasota, Florida from complications following a stroke.
Dave, son of Joseph and Ada Lewis, was born on October 7, 1937 in Orange, New Jersey and grew up in Nutley, New Jersey and Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Oberlin College and the University of Tennessee Medical School. After serving for two years as a medical officer in the Public Health Service, Dr. Lewis completed his residency in general surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, where he remained as a professor of surgery until 1978. From 1978 until retirement in 2004, he practiced general and vascular surgery with the General Clinic of West Bend.
Dr. Lewis served as vice-president and president of the Wisconsin Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, president of the Wisconsin Surgical Society, and president of the Milwaukee Academy of Surgery. During his time at the Medical College of Wisconsin, he was instrumental in advancing some of the original research on liver transplants. He was medical director and president of the Wisconsin division of the American Cancer Society. From 1986 until his death, he was a member of the board of directors of Metastar, a peer review organization.
Dave Lewis was also an active member of the West Bend community. He served as a consistory member and president of Immanuel United Church of Christ and sang in the church choir. He acted in and directed numerous theater productions with Musical Masquers and served on its board of directors. He was a board member and served as chair of Habitat for Humanity of Washington County.
Dave is remembered by family and friends as a generous, welcoming, good-humored man, the ultimate party host. They are thankful that his short retirement gave him some time to enjoy planning his new home in Sarasota; traveling with Judie to Croatia, Mexico, and Ireland; playing golf with friends; swimming and flying kites with his grandchildren on the beach.
He is survived by wife, Judith Lewis; a sister, Helen Thelin and husband, Calvin Thelin; four children, Jean Lewis and husband, Michael Rudie, Joan Blomquist and husband, Charles Blomquist, Joseph Lewis and wife, Gabrielle Mead, Janet Lewis Muth and husband, Gregory Muth; and seven grandchildren, David Blomquist, Andrew Blomquist, Isabel Rudie, Paul Rudie, Grace Muth, James Muth, and Margaret Muth.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 14 at 3:00 p.m. at the Cedar Theater (5595 Cty. Rd. Z, West Bend, WI). The family will greet visitors from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service.
Memorial donations can be made to Habitat for Humanity of Washington County.