Wanda Fay Lewis
August 31, 1952 ~ October 18, 2024
Wanda F. Lewis, 71, Sioux Falls, SD, surrounded by her devoted family, succumbed to kidney failure on Friday, October 18, 2024, while in hospice at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, SD.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 4900 W. 49th Street, Sioux Falls, SD. A reception will follow at McCrossan’s Boys Ranch, 47135 260th Street, Sioux Falls. Click HERE to watch the service live.
Wanda Fay Herrmann was born August 31, 1952, in Sioux Falls, SD, to Merle and Marion (Slob) Herrmann, the oldest of eight kids. Born prematurely, along with her twin sister, she was kept in Sioux Valley Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit until they were healthy enough to breathe on their own. She grew up in Sioux Falls where she met her future husband at age twelve when he and his sister climbed her parents’ fence and decimated their watermelon patch (a story that would often be repeated over the next fifty-plus years).
At 18, Wanda symbolized her dedication to Jehovah and was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She would spend the remainder of her life actively pursuing her faith.
On December 4, 1976, Wanda married the former watermelon smasher and the love of her life, Alfred James Lewis. They would remain married for 48 years, both faithfully serving their God, Jehovah. Together they would raise three children, Matthew, Crystal, and Audra, who all fondly remember her strong moral compass and a boisterous, infectious laugh that could be heard from great distances.
Wanda lived a full life, entering the full-time ministry as a regular pioneer shortly after being baptized. She helped many people study Bible truths throughout the years. She left lasting impressions; remembered by all as having a prodigious knowledge of the scriptures as well as a deep faith that remained unshakable until the very end. Her comments at the congregation meetings were inspiring and will be missed, as will her insights and desire to help others. Her fondest desire was to travel down the Yellow River in China after her resurrection in Jehovah’s new world.
Wanda faced many health trials in her life, from multiple bouts of cancer to struggles with heart disease and diabetes. The Lewis family is grateful for the loving care and compassion they received from the staff at Ava’s House.
Grateful to have shared her life are her husband, Alfred James Lewis; her three children, Matthew (Lorina) Lewis of Stanley, NM, Crystal (Brice) Busselman of Sioux Falls, SD, and Audra (Shane) Hemmer of Sioux Falls, SD; seven grandchildren, Aurora, Kysen, Chloe, Annika, Winter, Declan, and Seamus; one great-grandchild, Matthew; siblings, Linda, Stan, Sheryl, Wayne, Lyle, Sheila, and Lisa; as well as cousins, nieces, and nephews too numerous to count.
Deep condolences to the family. I loved Wanda and always admired her faith. When pioneering my first year Wanda was regular auxiliary pioneering and I got to spend a lot of time with her and her kids in service. I learned a lot from her skilled teaching and enjoyed how easy she was to talk to. I can’t wait to see her again in the new world.