Lewis DeWitt, 69, died on Dec. 2 at his home in Great Bend. Born Dec. 12, 1943, in Cass Lake, Minn., he was the son of Fred F. and Katherine (Gaubatz) DeWitt. On Nov. 17, 1962 he married Dennie Lou Short at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend. He moved to Kansas in 1962, residing in Lyons. Lewis and Dennie moved to Hutchinson, where he worked for International Harvester in Hutchinson. In late 1963, they moved to Great Bend where he was employed by Steinert Oil Company and Southard Home Improvement. He started his own business, DeWitt Sharpening Service and did small engine repair for more than twenty years. He also enjoyed home improvement work and making bread, wearing out two bread machines. He was an avid Barton Community College basketball fan, enjoying games since their inception in 1969.
Survivors include his wife, Dennie Lou DeWitt, of the home; one son, Darin DeWitt of Great Bend; three daughters, Julia Cordre and husband Neil and Lindsey Ensley and husband Scott, both of Great Bend, and Jane Skolaut of Clay Center, Neb.; two brothers, Donald DeWitt of Ellinwood, and Vernon DeWitt of Ottumwa, Iowa; two sisters, Elverna Dawson of North Wales, Pa., and Leila Smith of Sterling, Colo.; nine grandchildren, Meranda Skolaut, Rebecca Merritt, Jeremy Cordre, Ryan Cordre, Blake Skolaut, Greta Skolaut, Drew DeWitt, Blaine Ensley, and Marlie Ensley; and three great-grandchildren, Carter Camp, Lynden Merritt, and Elden Merritt. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Harold DeWitt, Arthur DeWitt, and Leslie DeWitt; and three sisters, Barbara Hinkemeyer, Esther Neighbors, and Lucy Vermit.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at Bryant Funeral Home with Father Don Bedore officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date at the Great Bend Cemetery.  Friends may visit from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m., on Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net
    
Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home*
                1425 Patton Road    
Great Bend, Ks. 67530
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Dec. 4, 2013