Jr. Fred Henry Lewis

Fred Henry “Freddy” Lewis, 63, of Kansas City, MO passed on October 16, 2020. Visitation 5-8pm Oct. 23 at Park Lawn Funeral Home (8251 Hillcrest Road, Kansas City, MO 64138), masks are required. Funeral 1pm Oct. 24 at Greenwood Cemetery (1251 SE Hook Lane, Lee’s Summit, MO 64082), everyone is welcome for this graveside service which will be outdoors. Freddy left this world with his younger brother Bobby Lewis. Preceded in death by his parents Fred Henry Lewis, Sr., Eleanore M. Lewis and his sister Lynne Marie Lewis. Survived by his siblings: Penny Sexton (Wayne), Cathy Lewis, Andy Lewis, Jimmy Lewis (Christine), Tilda Londre (Tristan), Karen Rohan (Mickey Meehan), Susie Nowatzki (Joe), Cindy Lewis, Donny Lewis (Amanda), Amy Van Wagner (Michael) and Jenny Hyder (Eric). His nieces and nephews: Brian Lewis, Jessie Lewis, Emma Taylor, Marissa Agueros, Syd Parrish, Sarah Lewis, Hayley Houchen, Taylor Nowatzki, Presley Lewis, Sierra Lewis, Gage Rohan, Graham Londre, Matt Lewis, Parker Sexton, Henry Londre, Caleb Lewis, Cameron Duffin, Tanner Nowatzki, Sophie Lewis, Ellie Londre, Gilbert Londre, Kennedy Lewis, Cassidy Duffin, Addy Londre, Maddie Van Wagner, Jacob Van Wagner and Alex Hyder. His great nieces and nephews: Eric (Cain) Lewis, Tavious Brown, Chandon, Desi, Eli, Tulsi, Briar, Weston, Grant, Mary, Brooklynn, Delaney, Charlotte and Phoebe. His great-great nephews Roman and Romeo. Also survived by close friends Frankie Bartkoski, Debbie Hart, Denise Watford, John Burns, Robert Hornbeck, Mike Lewis, many cousins and friends, Center Annex neighborhood friends and his Farmers Insurance family.

Freddy was born on September 27, 1957 in Wellington, Kansas to Fred “Henry” Lewis and Eleanore Marilyn (Andersen) Lewis. He mainly grew up in Kansas City MO but lived in Dayton MO and Mountain Home, Arkansas at young ages and lived in Aurora IL as an adult. He graduated from Center Senior High School class of 1975 where he played basketball and played in the concert and marching bands. He received his associates degree from Longview Community College, graduated from the Columbia School of Broadcasting and attended UMKC.

Freddy worked at Farmers Insurance from Oct. 1980 until his retirement there in March 2017, where he was Claims Clerical Supervisor. He was an excellent supervisor that resulted in much respect and friendship from his colleagues. Freddy loved to be involved in off-the-clock activities as well, such as profit-sharing parties and recreational sports teams. Previous workplaces included Ventures department store and Chloride Battery.

He was the coach of the neighborhood, being a leader for little league baseball, football and basketball teams. Many past players still talk fondly about his positive influence on them. He was known to be a little tough at times with his mentoring, even when coaching grade school kids if the team lost a game he had them run a mile the next day. Freddy was very competitive and played many sports often with his brothers and friends. He excelled at all sports that he tried and was known as the best basketball player in the old neighborhood growing up.

Freddy was always active with sports and hobbies like volleyball, bowling, and golf. He loved puzzles, movies and most of all music. He collected music starting at a very young age and had the biggest collection most people have ever seen. Music was a part of everything he did, starting with buying 45’s with his lunch money and continuing with his family band Infinity where he sang and played bass guitar. His knowledge of music was extensive and most impressive. He not only owned every Billboard Music Charts book, he knew them by heart.

Freddy was the DJ at all family and a lot of his friend’s events. He played the music that was the background and created so much joy at so many special occasions for his loved ones. He provided the soundtrack to our lives many, many times. He started DJ-ing at a young age and toted around cases of records, then 8-tracks, then cassette tapes, then CDs and eventually his laptop. He constantly played music at family gatherings and enjoyed taking requests because he knew it made people happy.

He loved to travel and took so many road trips. He had been to all 48 continental states and had a bucket list to visit every major league baseball stadium. He always took someone with him on his trips and showed Bobby the world in this way. He took sisters to Nashville and Memphis, nephews to New Orleans, nieces to Chicago and many other countless road trips across the country. Every trip was planned to a specific itinerary down to the hour. He knew how to make the most of every moment and get the most out of every adventure.

Freddy was the most giving and generous man, the gold star of people, who was happiest when he was making sure everyone else was having fun, had the latest Royals or Chiefs jerseys, favorite music cd or a cold beverage. He never failed to give the kids candy or a movie they wanted when he saw them, just constantly giving to others and nurturing whatever his family and friends liked. If you showed interest in anything, he made sure it was yours.

He organized so many family gatherings like the annual camping trip, cabins for the Lewis family reunion in Arkansas, karaoke and trivia nights, and most of all the big, fun Lewis Christmas Eve where he was of course the DJ. Everyone got their own song played when Freddy saw you had arrived at the event, he showed so much love to everyone through music. And he was Freddy Claus to many family members, buying gifts and taking them shopping.

Freddy was always joking with his constant humor and ended almost every sentence with his signature giggle and big-dimpled smile. He kept everything light and fun and never had a bad word to say about anyone. He was the true definition of a stand-up guy.

Only second to their love of family and friends was Freddy and Bobby’s love of their Royals and Chiefs. Their family was thankful they got to see the Chiefs win the Superbowl and the Royals win the World Series, both within the last 5 years of their lives. Going back to when Bobby and Freddy were kids they were always near each other and shared many common interests. Their family takes comfort knowing they left this world at the same time and they are still together, forever. The Lewis family now have two of their big brothers as guardian angels and they are forever in our hearts. We were blessed to have them as our brothers, uncles, cousins, friends, coworkers and to share their love.

Visitation 5-8pm Oct. 23 at Park Lawn Funeral Home (8251 Hillcrest Road, Kansas City, MO 64138), masks are required. Funeral 1pm Oct. 24 at Greenwood Cemetery (1251 SE Hook Lane, Lee’s Summit, MO 64082), everyone is welcome for this graveside service which will be outdoors.