Dr. James H. Lewis

Dr. James "Jim" Hubert Lewis, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and esteemed educator, passed away where he wanted to be, in his home on Monday September 30th, 2024, at the age of 95. Born on June 23, 1929 in Bluffton Ohio, to Olan and Blanche "Herr" Lewis. He spent his childhood on a farm, where he developed a love for the land and a passion for agriculture. In high school, he excelled at calf-roping, a reflection of his strong work ethic and determination.

Jim married his one true love, Mary Lou Lewis on August 18, 1948. Together, they built a life filled with love and shared dreams. After earning his Doctoral degree in Agricultural Economics, they moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, where they raised two sons, Dr. James Craig Lewis and Jeffrey Kyle Lewis.

Jim was a proud grandfather to five granddaughters—Jennifer Lewis (Terwilleger), Kyla "Lewis" Paluck, Jessica Lewis, Emily "Lewis" Madison, and Kortni "Lewis" Lambertson—and a cherished great-grandfather to 15 grandchildren. His delight in their accomplishments was evident, as he attended everything from little league games to graduations, always with a proud smile.

Dr. Lewis enjoyed a distinguished career as a Professor of Agricultural Economics at Colorado State University (CSU). He was the first professor to receive the CSU Hall of Fame in Agriculture award in 2013, and left a profound impact on his students, many of whom continued to visit him long after his retirement in 1988.

Jim cherished his time with family and friends. He loved Monday morning fishing trips with his son Craig and great-grandson Cooper, spontaneous garage get-togethers with neighbors, and festive family celebrations for birthdays and holidays. He was raised riding horses on the farm, and continued his love of horses through his career by boarding horses for students. An avid traveler, he wintered in Bahia Kino, Mexico, and Yuma, AZ, and took annual trips to Jackson Hole, WY, Santa Fe, NM and Mazatlan, Mexico. He was a loyal fan of the Denver Broncos and CSU Basketball and never missed an Ohio State Football game, his favorite team.

A devoted Christian, Dr. Lewis was passionate in his comprehensive study and knowledge of the scriptures and loved discussing Truth with all those around. He attended church throughout his life and enjoyed watching daily sermons with Mary Lou in their later years. His faith was evident in his daily actions, strength of character, and generous spirit.

All are invited to celebrate Dr. Lewis's long and joyful life. A service will be held on Sunday, October 6th, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Southgate Church, located at 6541 S College Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80525.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in James' memory may be made to

Samaritan's Purse:

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/pray-for-those-in-helenes-path/?utm_source=Ggl&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=m_YGND-B24V&utm_content=HurricaneHelene&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3vO3BhCqARIsAEWblcBEk4rTjDyEgDhcGuSbJdvR3kqqGDR6rAK2nEelQvpoW7CyivGLviMaAimkEALw_wcB;

and/or

Gideons' International:

https://www.gideons.org/