Josephine Lewis

Josephine (“Jo”) Lewis, age 84, of Elmwood, died Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at Spring Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Jo was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on January 27th, 1941, to George and Nancy (Puccio) Wagner. After her father, George, accidentally died while working in Anchorage, Alaska in May of 1956, her mother, Nancy, was eventually remarried to Stanley Newel. Jo was a 1959 graduate of St. Paul Harding High School and entered the workforce after graduation. She was an accomplished pianist, and a very talented bowler during her younger years

On November 29, 1966, Jo married Loren “Mike” Lewis, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Together, they resided in Cottage Grove, Minnesota for several years until they moved to a small hobby farm in Maiden Rock, Wisconsin in 1973. During this time, Jo began working at Citizen’s Security Insurance, in Red Wing, Minnesota, where she remained until she retired.

The family spent four years on the farm, before moving to the El-Dor-Wood Heights development in Hager City, where lasting friendships were made with many incredible neighborhood friends. After retirement, Mike and Jo enjoyed spending their summers up north with family in Birchwood, and then Spooner, Wisconsin. Jo always looked forward to the yearly Lewis family bass fishing tournament on Little Bear Lake that included a “friendly fishing competition”, amazing food afterwards, and cherished time spent with family and friends. Mike and Jo eventually sold their house in Hager City in 2001, and relocated to Elmwood, Wisconsin.

Jo was an incredibly loving and giving human being. She was extremely gifted when it came to crocheting, because as she put it, “No pattern was too difficult”, for her. She loved to crochet blankets, scarves, stocking caps, and hot pads for anyone…and everyone. If she knew a baby was on the way, she crocheted a baby blanket for the newborn. She often donated many of her afghans and other creations locally, to those in need. Jo also had a passion for gardening and canning, and she embraced her Italian heritage in the kitchen. Her mother and uncles were widely known in the Madison area for their Italian restaurants and establishments in the Greenbush neighborhood, and Jo replicated many of their recipes from memory. She loved to collect recipes and create/make new desserts, but she especially enjoyed making her chocolate chip cookies for “the boys”.

Most of all, Jo enjoyed video chats with her sister Gerri, visits from her grandkids, and watching her grandsons play sports. During her last few years, she enjoyed watching her hummingbirds, game shows, college softball, and golf.

Jo is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Loren “Mike” Lewis; her children Kim (Rod) Webb, and Michelle (Greg) Savino. She is also survived by her grandchildren Justin Lewis, Amanda (Paul) Maier, Stephanie Savino (Kevin), Kyle Webb (Nicole), Nick Webb (Asta) and Luke Webb (Hailey); great-grandchildren Clayton Savino and Caleb Maier; brother-in-law Neil Walter; niece Lori Kaemmer and nephew Craig (Beth) Walter; several in-laws, nephews, a niece, and step-grandchildren; and her incredible friend, Bridget Miller.

Jo was preceded in death by her parents, George and Nancy Wagner, stepfather Stanley Newel, and sister Gerri Walter; sisters-in-law Pat Robole, Darlene Lewis and Mary Jo Bjork; brothers-in-law Jim Lewis, John Lewis and David Lewis; and nephews Jeff Lewis and Bret Robole.

Our family would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the entire Adoray Home Health Hospice support staff and nurses, and the Spring Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center staff, for the exceptional care that they provided for our mom. We can’t thank them enough for the loving care mom received in her final months.

A Celebration of Life for Jo will be held on September 27th, 2025, from 1:00-4:00 pm at the Elmwood Rod & Gun Club in Elmwood, Wisconsin.

Jo believed in kindness, humility and giving to others. Memorials are preferred towards Staying Put in Spring Valley, WI, or the Alzheimer’s Association.

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