Catherine "Joan"

Lewis

Cheyenne, WY — Catherine "Joan" Lewis, 90, of Cheyenne, WY, passed away peacefully at the Parkside Manor Nursing Facility in Stuart on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025.

Memorial services will be held in Cheyenne, WY, including a rosary recitation and meditation at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes in Cheyenne, WY.

Mass will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, at St. Mary's Cathedral in Cheyenne, WY.

Memorials may be made to Special Olympics Iowa, 551 SE Dovetail Rd, Grimes, IA 50111, in honor of her nephew Charlie Leavitt, Joan's name. 

Joan was born on June 14, 1934, in El Dorado, KS to Flora Mae Lehr (nee Rogers) of Ellsworth, KS and Andrew Joseph Lehr of Augusta, KS. Joan and her twin Caroline “Ruth” were a surprise to their mother upon their delivery. Joan loved her twin dearly and felt like she lost a part of herself after Ruth passed away in May 2021. 

Joan and Ruth enjoyed confusing their parents, their husbands, their children and their grandchildren with their identical looks and similar mannerisms. Joan had six other siblings Mary Elizabeth “Biddy” Eaton, Richard “Dick” Andrew Lehr, Patricia Ann Evans, James “Jim” Lehr, Julia “Judy” Margaret Badwey and William “Billy” Francis Lehr. Joan, Ruth and Judy often dressed alike and were often confused as triplets.

Joan married her high school sweetheart and love of her life Wayne A. Lewis, also of El Dorado, KS, on Oct. 10, 1955. 

Joan and Ruth graduated from El Dorado High School and attended the Dodge City School of Nursing (“St. Joseph's School of Nursing”) in Kansas. 

Joan lived in El Dorado, Salina, and Wichita, Kansas; Broomfield and Denver, Colorado; and ultimately Cheyenne, Wyoming beginning in 1973 where Joan and Wayne raised their three children Charles “Chuck” Lewis, Anthony “Tony” Lewis and Celia “CeCe” Janousek. Joan and Wayne shared a beautiful loving marriage for almost 60 years until Wayne's death in 2014. 

Joan worked as a registered nurse at various hospitals and clinics across the U.S. including Orange Memorial Hospital (now Orlando Regional Medical Center) in Orlando, FL; the Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital in El Dorado, KS; and the Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Cheyenne, WY. 

Joan enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; listening to classical and liturgical music, which often reminded her of her sister Biddy playing music as a child; crocheting and knitting; attending Mass; enjoying classic movies, Broadway musicals, and theatrical shows; playing the organ; and watching Broncos football and competitive figure skating.  

Joan is survived by her two sons Chuck (Allison) Lewis of Centennial, WY and Tony (Cindy) Lewis of Cheyenne, WY; her daughter Celia “CeCe” (Joe) Janousek of O'Neill; six grandchildren Matthew Lewis of Eagle, CO, Abigail Fournier of Laramie, WY, Ryan Janousek of Omaha, Elliott Janousek of Gilbert, AZ, Madeleine Lewis of Laramie, WYand Hannah Janousek of Las Vegas, NV; four great-grandchildren Winifred Frances and Clara Catherine Fournier (also twins) and Olena and Eloise Janousek; numerous nieces and nephews; and three sisters-in-law Patricia “Pat” Bailey, Eleanor Lehr and Beverly Lehr.