Obit: Lew, Walter (1914 - 2010) 
 

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Lew, Tyznik, Luzinski, Kelley, Langley, Fischer, Johnson, Wirth, Gilbertson, Smith, Talaga  
 

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) June 2, 2010 
 

Lew, Walter (19 April 1914 - 25 May 2010) 
 

Walter Lew, age 96, of Wausau, formerly of Thorp, passed away at Aspirus Hospital, in Wausau, on Tuesday, May 25, 2010.  
 

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, June 4, 2010, at St. Mary’s Polish National Catholic Church in Lublin. Father Marion Talaga will officiate and entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Eau Claire. Visitation will be at the church, on Friday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. 
 

Walter Lew was born on April 19, 1914, in St. Louis, Missouri, to John and Katherine (Tyznik) Lew.  Walter was raised on a dairy farm near Lublin with five brothers and one sister.  Walter rode the trains west to work odd jobs in the oat and wheat fields.  He also worked as a lumberjack in northern Wisconsin. 
 

He returned to the Lublin area and married Sophie Luzinski on October 14, 1939, at St. Mary’s Polish National Catholic Church.  They bought their own dairy farm in the Town of Withee, milking the cows and tending the fields for 33 years, before retiring to Thorp.  Walter continued to sell farm equipment and seed corn until he was 79, consistently being the top salesman for Jung Seed Company.  Walter could repair anything, enjoyed a hard day’s work, and loved his wife’s cooking.  He was exceptionally patient and willing to share his knowledge.  Walter and Sophie moved to Wausau in 2006.  Walter was preceded in death by his wife in 2008.  Sophia and Walter had 68 years together farming, traveling and enjoying life.  
 

They raised three children who survive: Shirley (Michael) Kelley of North Bend, WA, Connie Lew of Eau Claire, and Walter Gene (Linda) Lew of Wausau.  He will be sadly missed by his seven grandchildren: Julie (Richard) Langley, Heidi (Craig) Fischer, Brent Kelley, Tina (Carl) Johnson, Karen (Erick) Wirth, Brandon (Jolene) Lew, and Mandy (Matt) Gilbertson; and nine great-grandchildren: Trent, Brayden, Sandra, Alexa, Devin, Calder, Libby, Claire and Bennett.  He is further survived by his sister, Helen Smith, and brother, Stanley Lew, nieces, nephews and friends. 
 

Walter was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and brothers: Mike, John, Frank, and Henry. 
 

The family is grateful to the staff at Stonecrest for their warm and loving care.  Walter looked forward to sharing stories with you every day. 
 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Easter Seals Wisconsin.