Obituary of Charles Dean Lewis

C. Dean Lewis, son of John H. Lewis and Evelyn Burton Lewis, died on April 22, 2017, at Bethesda Hospital East, Boynton Beach, Fla. Dean died of complications of pneumonia at the age of 83 years and two days. Dean and Helen Mae moved to Boynton Beach on Feb. 1, 2012 to be near their daughter Deanna and husband Raymond Lazzara. Dean was born in Burlington on April 20, 1934. Beginning at the age of six, Dean—alongside his older brother Russell—delivered milk for Lewis Dairy, the family business. Dean played many sports, including football and basketball. Dean was the last surviving member of the Burlington Cougars’ basketball team that set a school record of 25 straight wins, a streak that ended in the state championship game in 1952. Dean graduated from Burlington High School in 1952. He attended Colorado State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (also known then as Colorado A&M, which is now called Colorado State University). Dean joined the border patrol, for which he was stationed out of Calexico, Calif. Dean also served in the United States Army, in the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, N. C. Upon returning to Colorado, Dean’s ability to translate between migrant workers and farmers made him much in demand. On Dec. 26, 1966, Dean married Helen Mae (née Fruhling) of Flagler in a beautiful candlelit ceremony at the Congregational Church in Flagler. They moved to Grand Junction, where Dean served as a special agent for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance for 40 years. Dean and Helen Mae celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on Dec. 26, 2016, at Café L’Europe, Palm Beach, Fla. Over the course of his life, Dean participated in many organizations, including the Cub and Boy Scouts; the Burlington High School Letterman Club; the Sigma Chi Fraternity and ROTC at Colorado A&M; Sons of the American Revolution; the NRA; Free Masons; Elks Lodge #575; and Judicial Watch. Dean enjoyed bowling, biking, golfing, dancing, and traveling, and was an avid reader. He loved taking Helen Mae and Deanna to the casino once a week. Dean and Helen Mae traveled the U.S. every year, ultimately reaching all 50 states, Mexico, and Canada, including Nova Scotia. Dean’s passing is mourned by his wife Helen Mae; daughter Deanna and husband Raymond Lazzara; step-granddaughter Lauren and husband Dan King; step-granddaughter Julie and fiancé Matt Schneider; step-great-grandson Charles James; brother Duane and wife Char Lewis; cousin Allan and wife Carolyn Pugh; cousin Owen and wife Gretchen Pugh; cousin Brian Pugh; sister-in-law Betty Trahern; sister-in-law Gail Fruhling; niece Anne and husband Shawn Vanderhoven; nephew Dustin Lewis and husband Mike Dyer; grand-nephews Joseph, Seth, and Samuel Vanderhoven; as well as additional loving nieces, a nephew, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Dean was predeceased by his parents, daughter Sylvia Jean Fletcher, brother Russell, and brothers-in-law Robert Fruhling and Robert Trahern. A viewing was held in Boynton Beach, Fla. on April 26. 2017.