rydns
04-12-2007, 08:26 AM
Just wanted to let everyone know that we lost another great horseman with the passing of Gene Lewis this past Sunday. Here is his obituary from the Idaho Statesman:
Gene Lewis, 82, of Murphy, passed away early Easter Sunday morning at a local hospital with his wife Tish at his side. The youngest of seven children he was born on Feb. 24, 1925 in Oreana, Idaho to George and Maude Lewis and attended school in Silver City, Murphy and later in Boise. He grew up working on the ranches buckarooing for the Joyce Ranch in Sinker Creek and the Nettleton family ranches. He knew every rock in his beloved Owyhee Mountains. In 1944 he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and was stationed in England with the "Bloody Hundred" as a ball turret gunner on a B17. He flew bombing missions over Germany and food drops over Amsterdam. After the war he rodeoed quite extensively riding bucking horses and as the rider in the wild horse races. He moved to California in the 50's to begin an illustrious career with jumping horses as a competitor, teacher and trainer. He became an internationally renowned horseman with horses he started and trained, going to the American, Canadian, Mexican and Japanese national teams. His horses competed at the Los Angeles Olympic Games and a Pan American Games. He returned to his native Idaho in 1990, officially retiring but still teaching and training a few horses. In 2002 he was recognized for his services to show jumping by the American Horse Shows Association with their Medal of Honor. In 2005 the California Professional Horseman's Assn. honored him with their Lifetime Achievement award. In April of 2006 the Idaho Horse Council declared him an Idaho Legend. In October of 2006 he was given the Idaho Horseman of the Year Award at the Idaho Horse Park. In addition to his wife Tish, Gene is survived by his sister Peggy Axelsen of Nampa; A daughter Kathy Papendorf, son in law Jeff Papendorf and grandson Kyle of Clovis, Calif. and a daughter Karen VerHagen, granddaughters Sara and Laura VerHagen and great-grandchildren Eric and Olivia, all of Lodi, Calif. A celebration of his life will be held at the Owyhee County Historical Museum in Murphy on Friday April 27 at 4 p.m. Arrangements are under the direction of the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel. Remembrances may be made to the Idaho Horse Park Foundation c/o of the Idaho Center in Nampa or the Owyhee County Historical Society in Murphy.
Gene Lewis, 82, of Murphy, passed away early Easter Sunday morning at a local hospital with his wife Tish at his side. The youngest of seven children he was born on Feb. 24, 1925 in Oreana, Idaho to George and Maude Lewis and attended school in Silver City, Murphy and later in Boise. He grew up working on the ranches buckarooing for the Joyce Ranch in Sinker Creek and the Nettleton family ranches. He knew every rock in his beloved Owyhee Mountains. In 1944 he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and was stationed in England with the "Bloody Hundred" as a ball turret gunner on a B17. He flew bombing missions over Germany and food drops over Amsterdam. After the war he rodeoed quite extensively riding bucking horses and as the rider in the wild horse races. He moved to California in the 50's to begin an illustrious career with jumping horses as a competitor, teacher and trainer. He became an internationally renowned horseman with horses he started and trained, going to the American, Canadian, Mexican and Japanese national teams. His horses competed at the Los Angeles Olympic Games and a Pan American Games. He returned to his native Idaho in 1990, officially retiring but still teaching and training a few horses. In 2002 he was recognized for his services to show jumping by the American Horse Shows Association with their Medal of Honor. In 2005 the California Professional Horseman's Assn. honored him with their Lifetime Achievement award. In April of 2006 the Idaho Horse Council declared him an Idaho Legend. In October of 2006 he was given the Idaho Horseman of the Year Award at the Idaho Horse Park. In addition to his wife Tish, Gene is survived by his sister Peggy Axelsen of Nampa; A daughter Kathy Papendorf, son in law Jeff Papendorf and grandson Kyle of Clovis, Calif. and a daughter Karen VerHagen, granddaughters Sara and Laura VerHagen and great-grandchildren Eric and Olivia, all of Lodi, Calif. A celebration of his life will be held at the Owyhee County Historical Museum in Murphy on Friday April 27 at 4 p.m. Arrangements are under the direction of the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel. Remembrances may be made to the Idaho Horse Park Foundation c/o of the Idaho Center in Nampa or the Owyhee County Historical Society in Murphy.