Eugene L. "Gene" Lewandowski

Eugene L. “Gene” Lewandowski, 81, of Loup City, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, at the Rose Lane Home in Loup City. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church in Loup City. The Rev. Marty Egging will officiate. Burial will be in the St. Francis Catholic Cemetery in Ashton, with graveside military honors by American Legion Post 48 of Loup City. Visitation will be Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church, with a 7 p.m. vigil service and Knights of Columbus Rosary. Peters Funeral Home of Loup City is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Lewandowski was born on Jan. 30, 1928, on a farm near Ashton, the son of Walter and Tekla (Kaminski) Lewandowski. He was united in marriage to Eleanore M. “Ellie” Werner on Dec. 26, 1959, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Grand Island. He is survived by his wife Eleanore M. “Ellie” Lewandowski of Loup City; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Mark and Julie Lewandowski of Overland Park, KS, John and Suzie Lewandowski of Omaha, and James “Jamie” Lewandowski of Lincoln; two daughters and sons-in-law, Jane and John Maschka of Arcadia and Lynn and Kyle Gifford of North Platte; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Rita and Ray Gembala of Kearney and Annette and Richard Mendyk of Grand Island; and two brothers and one sister-in-law, Al Lewandowski of Grand Island and Jim and Donna Lewandowski of Tracy, CA. He also leaves to cherish his memory 13 grandchildren, Jessica, Robert and Patrick Lewandowski, Joseph, Matthew, Mercedes and Luke Lewandowski, Mackenzie and Macrae Maschka, and Josha, Johnna, Regan and Lance Gifford. Gene grew up on the family farm and attended Sherman County rural school District No. 73 and graduated from Loup City High School in 1945. After graduation he helped his father on the farm while his older brothers, Al and Ralph served in the military in Africa, Italy and Germany during World War II. He then taught in rural schools for two years and worked in road construction and farming. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict from Feb. 7, 1951 to Jan. 23, 1953. He was assigned to the 321st Signal Battalion in Germany, where he served as a telephone lineman. Upon his discharge, he went to work for Northwestern Bell as a lineman in North Platte. In 1955, he was transferred to Loup City as an installer repairman. He retired from US West in 1990 after 37 years with the company. After retiring, Gene loved to farm on his acreage and enjoyed golfing with his buddies. He was a member of St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church where he served for 42 years as a Eucharistic Minister, lector, and prayer leader, CCD teacher and sang with the choir. He also took part in the Methodist Men’s bible study for 20 years and served on the Loup City School Board for 8 years. He was a member of Knights of Columbus Council No. 5455 and American Legion Post No. 48, all of Loup City. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Sally Golka and Margaret Kowalski; and four brothers, Louis, Andrew, Ralph and his identical twin, Mike Lewandowski. Memorials are suggested to the family’s choice.