Esther Louise Lewis

Esther Louise Kuhlman was born on April 26, 1919 in Fieldon Township, Watonwan Co., MN to Fred and Erma Kuhlman. Esther was baptized on May 11, 1919 at Trinity-Fieldon and was confirmed on April 9, 1933 at Zion Lutheran Church, Lewisville, MN. Esther graduated from Rapidan High School. Esther was united in marriage to Ralph Elton Lewis on September 10, 1939 at Zion Lutheran Church, Lewisville. Esther was a homemaker her whole life. She taught knitting lessons through the Extension service. She was an amazing seamstress including quilting and sewing her daughters' wedding dresses. In later years she and Ralph wintered in Alamo, Texas where she took up painting, wood working, quilling, tatting, gardening, flower gardening, and spoiling grandchildren and great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She also enjoyed playing cards and was usually on the winning team. Esther was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Lewisville, a member of the Watonwan County Extension, Lewisville Kitchen Band and the Lewisville Legion Auxiliary. She was the baker at the Lutheran Retirement Home, Truman and Lutheran Memorial Nursing Home, Madelia. Esther died on Wednesday, January 1, 2014 at Truman Senior Living. Esther is survived by five daughters and sons-in-law, Barb Jones (Ernie) of Truman, Judy Pitcher (Tom) of Mosinee, WI, Sandy LeTourneau (Tom) of Beaumont, TX, Carmen Reckard (Steve) of Truman, Colleen Lewis (Stan Komendowski) of Hillpoint, WI; 14 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; 8 great-great grandchildren; sister, Ruth Ann Shaw, Mansfield, OH; one brother-in-law, Leslie Lewis (Gladys) of St. James; sisters-in-law, Phyllis Lewis, Berkeley, CA, Lillian Kuhlman, Lewisville, MN, Mollie Kuhlman of Winthrop, MN, Sussie Kuhlman of St. James, MN and numerous nieces and nephews. Esther was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ralph, grandson Mark Roberts, 2 sisters, Marilyn Wengert and Marjory Dewar, 3 brothers Merrill Kuhlman, Roy Kuhlman and Willis Kuhlman, 3 brothers-in-law George Wengert and Malcolm Dewar, James Lewis, 1 sister-in-law Betty Lewis.