- Date Of Birth: December 14, 1932
- Date Of Death: August 4, 2010
- State: Illinois
Gene Lewis, 77, of Ottawa, died Wednesday afternoon, August 4, 2010 at the LaSalle County Nursing Home. Gene was born on December 14, 1932 in Ottawa to Elmer Abe and Elaine (Logeland) Lewis. He graduated from Ottawa Township High School.
He married Eleanor Christiansen on July 13, 1952 in Grand Ridge. He worked at Norris Grain, then went into the insurance business, purchasing Christiansen Insurance Agency in Grand Ridge in 1960. He retired in 2007. Gene served as Regional Vice-president of the Independent Insurance Agents for the State of Illinois, President of the LaSalle County Independent Insurance Agents. He received the designation of Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) in 1970, and also received his Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC).
He was a member of the IOOF Lodge, the Illinois Valley Carvers Club, and was a volunteer with the Grand Ridge Fire Department for 40 years. He was a member of the Ottawa Garden Club, a volunteer with Ottawa Regional Hospital and Healthcare Center and Friendship Village. He is survived by his wife Eleanor, and one son, Mark. He was preceded in death by one son, Keith Wayne Lewis, his father, Elmer Lewis, his mother, Elaine Ohme, step-father, Herman Ohme, and one sister, Evalene Weide.
