Wanda Lewis

Wanda Lewis passed away peacefully on June 23, 2026. She was born on May 21, 1936, as the eldest of five daughters to George and Eleanor (Keller) Brown in Trenton, Nebraska. Growing up in the Trenton area, she attended local schools and graduated with the Trenton High School class of 1954. Known for her sociable nature and love for dancing, she participated in nearly all the dances held at school and within the community. Wanda was part of a large family "clan" that included over 90 first cousins, and she could recount countless stories of her experiences as a small-town girl in the 1940s and 50s in rural Southwest Nebraska.

At one of those dances, she met her future husband, Dennis Lewis, and they were married at the Congregational Church in Trenton in 1958. They enjoyed 42 years of marriage until his passing in 2000. Throughout their lives, they primarily resided in and around Trenton, with the exception of a year spent in the Nebraska Sandhills and their pre-retirement years in Russell, Kansas. At the age of 80, Wanda made a significant move to Seward, Nebraska, where she would spend the rest of her long life. Reflecting on her relocation to Seward, she often expressed, "There are good people everywhere."

Wanda dedicated much of her life to being a homemaker. However, she also worked as a secretary/bookkeeper at the ASCS Office, ESU #15, the Village Office in Trenton, and in the school cafeteria. She took great pleasure in tending to her flowers, volunteering on the Trenton Housing and Trenton Library Boards, quilting in the basement of the Methodist Church in Trenton, and serving on the Seward Manor Board after her move to Seward. Friends and family will fondly remember Wanda for her ability to cook for large gatherings, her welcoming home, her willingness to share her opinions, and her enjoyment of scenic drives in the countryside.

Wanda is survived by her sister, Connie (Brown) Bryant; children: Mary (Dave) Forch, Mark (Beth) Lewis, and Michael (Staci) Lewis; along with grandchildren: Kevin (Jessi) Forch, Maggie (Nick) Borgmann, Darci (Joe) Ramirez, Amy (Paul) Pape, John (Haley) Sullivan, Sam Lewis, Brock (Julia) Lewis, and Shelby Lewis. In addition to children and grandchildren, Wanda had nine great-grandchildren: Emerson, Peter, Jacob, Cate, Caleb, Hattie, Elsie, Fletcher, and Mason. She also has nieces, nephews, and cousins to mourn her passing, along with dear neighbors and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dennis, and sisters, Donna (Brown) Whetstone, Marcia Brown, and Sandra (Brown) Knapp.

A celebration of her ninety-year life will be held graveside in Cornell Cemetery, in rural Trenton, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to their favorite charity in Wanda’s name.