Lewis Lebakken, Jr.

Lewis Lebakken, Jr., went to his Lord on Tuesday Nov. 25, 2014, after a brief and courageous battle with cancer. 

He was born June 16, 1941, to Lewis and Agnes (Moen) Lebakken of Galesville, Wis.  He was baptized and confirmed at French Creek Lutheran Church near at Ettrick, Wis.  Lewis attended local schools and graduated from Galesville High School in 1959.

In high school, he played trombone in the band, was an excellent student, and was chosen for the National Honor Society.  He was also on a meat-judging team that received national honors and earned him a partial scholarship to the College of Agriculture at the University of Wisconsin in Madison where he majored in Meat and Animal Science. 

In 1961, he met Charlene Olson on a blind date and they were married Sept. 2, 1962.  Char worked as an RN at the Methodist Hospital in Madison until Lewis graduated and obtained a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a meat grader and specialist. 

The government job and promotions took them to Seattle, Wash., Albert Lea, Minn., La Habra, Calif., Cleveland, Ohio, and Washington D.C., where he worked until his retirement in 1996, the last five years working with the FAA as a regulations writer and analyst. 

While living in Virginia and commuting to D.C. everyday, Lewis and Char became active in Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, where he sang in the choir, played guitar, served on several committees, and was a lay leader.  The last few years there he took post-graduate courses in Christian counseling, lay speaking, and lay ministry.

He also was a Boy Scout Leader and was a good influence on many young men. When in Seattle (1966), he was about to be drafted into the U.S. Army and opted instead to join the U.S. Marine Corps.  He was sent to Quantico, Virginia, for Officers Candidate School. 

A long-standing back problem returned and he was honorably discharged after 6 weeks of physical training.  He was justifiably proud of his short military service and was respected for being willing to serve his country.  Lewis retired in 1996 and he and Char moved to Greenville, Wis. 

After working in retail, he answered a lifelong call to the ministry and was accepted by the United Methodist Wisconsin Conference as a local pastor.  For training, he attended intensive seminary studies for two weeks every year in St. Louis, Missouri, enabling him to serve churches at Center Emmanuel near Black Creek, Wis., and Angelica United Methodist Church near Pulaski, Wis. 

Lewis served these two churches for four years until he and Char moved to La Crosse to be near their grandchildren.  He was then appointed to Stoddard United Methodist Church, where he served for four years until he retired.  He and Char then attended Asbury United Methodist Church (now Faith United Methodist Church) in La Crosse, where he stayed active in choir and was chairman of the Administrative Council. 

Lewis also served as a supply pastor for churches in the area including Baptist, Lutheran, and United Methodist churches.  It was his nature to continue his ministry in a lay capacity through visitations and by showing his obvious faith and a caring and compassionate life. 

His favorite bible verse was Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven”.  That verse defined his life and influenced more people to love the Lord than we will ever know.

Lewis is survived by Char, his beloved wife of 52 years; a son, Brad (Linda) of West Salem and their sons, Trygve and Nels; a daughter, Laura.  He is at rest in the arms of his Savior.