Jerome A. Lewis

Jerome Archibald Lewis passed away on Sunday, November 27, 2016 in Denver, Colorado, at the age of 89. Jerry was a devoted, joyful, and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was a man whose deep faith inspired him to reach out to all who came into his path, caring for many and enriching the lives of all who knew him. He embodied the saying ""May the Lord give you a rich life of joy and power, abundant in supernatural results."" With his encouraging leadership, he assisted many individuals and ministries in their efforts to know and serve Jesus. His passing will be mourned not only by his family but by the hundreds of people whose lives he touched. Jerry is survived by his son, Joshua (Victoria), his daughters Madelynn Winstead (Edwin), and Josi Larson (David), eight grandchildren - Garreth Winstead (Cheryl), Martha Slattery (John), Maddie Thielke (Shaine), Spencer Winstead, Blake Larson, Jessie Larson, Tucker Larson (Kyli), Lizzie Fields (Noah), and five great grandchildren (Roisin Slattery, Sean Slattery, Patraic Slattery, Clare Winstead, and Lucy Winstead). He was predeceased by his wife, Martha Dell Lewis, his mother, Madelynn Butts Lewis, his father, Hiram Wheeler Lewis, and his brothers, Hiram Wheeler Lewis Jr., and George King Lewis. Jerry was born in Wichita, Kansas. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in geological engineering. Following his marriage in June of 1950, he and Martha Dell relocated from Wichita, Kansas to Colorado in 1954. During his early years in Denver, Jerry was an active member of the Denver Petroleum Club where he was honored as Man Of The Year in 1983. He was also a member of Young President's Organization, The Conference Board, and the World Business Council. From the late-sixties to the present, Jerry was active in Young Life, on various YL committees, the YL National Board, and the YL Foundation. Jerry was very active with the leadership team of the International Foundation and Denver Leadership Foundation. He and Martha Dell were founding members of Greenwood Community Church and co-chaired the Downing Street Foundation for over twenty-five years. Jerry was the founder of Petro-Lewis Corporation, which by the middle 1980's was one of the nation's largest independent oil companies. He loved the oil business and was proud to have been in an industry that provided inexpensive, abundant energy for all Americans. Along with his many friends in the industry, Jerry helped to build Denver into one of the leading oil and gas centers in the world. He was a mentor to all those around him, and his inspiration helped dozens of young people to build their careers as well. Jerry loved to travel and he loved to ski. He was one of the early partners in the groups that built the resort of Vail, Colorado. He loved nothing more than sharing his love of the mountains with his family and friends. Nothing gave him more joy than the many travel experiences he had with his children and grandchildren over the years. There will be a memorial celebration of Jerry's life held at Greenwood Community Church (Belleview and Holly) on Friday, December 16th at 11:00 am with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Jerry's name to Downing House, 5150 East Yale Circle, Suite 303, Denver, Colorado 80222. Please share memories of Jerry and condolences with his family in the guestbook below.