Freeman Lewis

Freeman Lewis, 94, passed away December 8, 2017 at his home in Saxony Village with his sons present. Freeman was born January 20, 1923 to Fred and Ethel Miller Lewis on their farm east of Des Arc in Iron County, Missouri. He was predeceased by his siblings, Frank, Francis, Frieda (Truman Howard), Leta (Larry Bahn), and Bill. Bill’s wife, Florence Felter Lewis, survives. In 1938, the family moved to Cape Girardeau at the urging of Francis, who was attending college and living in a boarding house at 371 North Henderson. The owners wanted to sell and the Lewis family bought the house. Ethel made arrangements with the football coach, Abe Stuber, to feed the football team at the boarding house. After graduating from Central High School in 1940, Freeman attended Southeast State College. In May 1942, learning that the Wimpy’s hamburger stand, then located at the entrance to Arena Park, was for sale he and his parents bought the business. On his 20th birthday Freeman enlisted in the Army Air Force. His parents and younger brother Bill ran the business in his absence. After basic training in Clearwater, Florida, Freeman received advanced training in teletype operation and repair at Chanute Field, Il, and Fresno, CA. He arrived on Guam in 1944 and served in the 922nd Signal Company. Freeman’s unit relayed messages about the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the White House. Shortly after Freeman’s return from Guam, the city informed the Lewises of a plan for a new entrance to Arena park which would require demolition of the Wimpy’s building. The Lewis family then bought the building across King’s Highway and it became the home of Wimpy’s Drive-In for the next 28 years. All through the 50’s and 60’s, with their secret-recipe Wimpyburgers and homemade pies, Wimpy’s was a popular destination for high school and college students as well as Cape families. In the early 1970’s, with increasing competition, the family decided to sell the site to Famer’s and Merchant’s Bank for a new branch bank. Wimpy’s had been in business 31 years. Freeman’s favorite pastime was golf. As a member of Cape Jaycees, he played a key role during ’53 and ‘54 in building the Jaycee Golf Course. He played may rounds of golf there before becoming a charter member of the Kimbleland Country Club where he also enjoyed many rounds of golf. He was very proud of the four holes-in-one he made while golfing. In September 1948, Freeman married Alice Regenhardt at Grace Methodist Church. They spent their lives together in Cape Girardeau for 68 years, until Alice passed away May 2, 2017. They were members of Centenary Methodist Church since their marriage. At Centenary, Freeman was a member of United Methodist Men and served as a church usher for many years. He also belonged to American Legion Post 63, Cape Jaycees, and the APO Fraternity. Surviving are his sons Rob (Diane) and Jon (Susan), three grandchildren: Sara (Thomas) Satterwhite, Angela (Justin) Morgan, and Stephen Lewis, two great-granddaughters Blake and Emily Satterwhite, and brother-in-law Don Regenhardt. Visitation will be Wednesday, December 13, 2017 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. Memorial service will be Thursday, December 14, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church with Rev. David Conley officiating. Visitation will also be Thursday from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the church. Private burial with military honors will be Thursday at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be given to Centenary United Methodist Church.

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Freeman Lewis

January 20, 1923 - December 8, 2017