Catherine "Joan" Lewis

Catherine “Joan” Lehr Lewis, 90, of Cheyenne, Wyoming passed away peacefully at the Parkside Manor Nursing Facility in Stuart, Nebraska on February 5, 2025. 

Joan was born on June 14, 1934, in El Dorado, Kansas to Flora Mae Lehr (nee Rogers) of Ellsworth, Kansas and Andrew Joseph Lehr of Augusta, Kansas. Joan and her twin, Caroline “Ruth”, were a surprise to their mother upon their delivery. Joan loved her twin dearly and felt like she lost a part of herself after Ruth passed away in May 2021. Joan and Ruth enjoyed confusing their parents, their husbands, their children, and their grandchildren with their identical looks and similar mannerisms. Joan had six other siblings: Mary Elizabeth “Biddy” Eaton, Richard “Dick” Andrew Lehr, Patricia Ann Evans, James “Jim” Lehr, Julia “Judy” Margaret Badwey, and William “Billy” Francis Lehr. Joan, Ruth, and Judy often dressed alike and were often confused as triplets.

Joan married her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Wayne A. Lewis, also of El Dorado, on October 10, 1955. Joan and Ruth graduated from El Dorado High School and attended the Dodge City School of Nursing (“St. Joseph’s School of Nursing”) in Kansas. Joan lived in El Dorado, Salina, and Wichita, Kansas; Broomfield and Denver, Colorado; and ultimately Cheyenne, Wyoming beginning in 1973 where Joan and Wayne raised their three children: Charles “Chuck” Lewis, Anthony “Tony” Lewis, and Celia “CeCe” Janousek. Joan and Wayne shared a beautiful loving marriage for almost sixty years until Wayne’s death in 2014. 

Joan worked as a Registered Nurse at various hospitals and clinics across the U.S. including Orange Memorial Hospital (now Orlando Regional Medical Center) in Orlando, Florida; the Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital in Wichita, Kansas; and the Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Joan enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren; listening to classical and liturgical music, which often reminded her of her sister Biddy playing music as a child; crocheting and knitting; attending Mass; enjoying classic movies, Broadway musicals, and theatrical shows; playing the organ; and watching Broncos football and competitive figure skating. 

Joan is survived by her two sons and their wives, Chuck and Allison Lewis of Centennial, Wyoming, and Tony and Cindy Lewis of Cheyenne, Wyoming; her daughter and her husband, Celia “CeCe” and Joe Janousek of O'Neill, Nebraska; six grandchildren, Matthew Lewis of Eagle, Colorado; Abigail Fournier of Laramie, Wyoming; Ryan Janousek of Omaha, Nebraska; Elliott Janousek of Gilbert, Arizona; Madeleine Lewis of Laramie, Wyoming; and Hannah Janousek of Las Vegas, Nevada; four great-grandchildren, Winifred Frances and Clara Catherine Fournier (also twins), and Olena and Eloise Janousek; and sister-in-law, Patricia “Pat” Bailey of El Dorado, Kansas. 

Memorial services will include a rosary recitation and meditation from Thursday, February 13, 2025, 4:00 p.m. on at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes, and Mass at Friday, February 14, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Mary's Cathedral with reception to follow at Westgate.

In lieu of flowers, Joan’s family requests memorial contributions be made to Wounded Warriors, PO Box 758516, Topeka KS 66675 in memory of her husband, Wayne, a veteran.