CSP US Navy World War II
Harold Vern Lewis, former state legislator, McMinnville City Council president and longtime McMinnville businessman, died Aug. 6 in Hillsboro. He was 83.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in McMinnville United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Steve Ross officiating.
A Democrat, Lewis represented Yamhill County in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1966 to 1970. He was one of those rare politicians who enjoyed the support of voters from both parties, said County Commissioner Ted Lopuszynski, Lewis' longtime friend. "I think he had as many friends among Republicans as Democrats. It was very unusual for a Democrat to be elected in Yamhill County at that time," Lopuszynski observed.
McMinnville attorney Dave Haugeberg had known Lewis for more than 30 years. "Harold had a special ability to look at both sides of an issue and to strike a balance between them, on even the most difficult issues, with a very fair result," Haugeberg said. "He was able to get both Democrats and Republicans to sit down and work with him."
As a legislator, Lewis was instrumental in passing the state's first guide dog law, which required that the dogs be allowed to accompany their owners into public places. He also helped pass legislation allowing Yamhill County to establish a retirement plan for its employees.
He was appointed to the McMinnville City Council in 1972 and re-elected twice, serving three terms as president of the council. He retired from the council in 1979 to focus his energy on recovery from a stroke he had suffered the previous year.
"Harold was always interested in what we could do to make McMinnville a better place, and in making it happen. Even after his stroke, he kept serving on the council, perhaps longer than was best for him, because so many people urged him to try to continue," Haugeberg said.
Lewis was known for speaking his mind. A News-Register editorial published after his resignation in 1979 called it "a loss to (the City Council) of an important quality - a councilman who always spoke his mind without worrying if it ruffled a few feathers. ... When something seemed wrong to him, he never failed to state that feeling in words that people could understand."
But Lopuszynski noted, when Lewis spoke his mind, it usually was on a positive note and often accompanied by humor. "He always enjoyed life and always had a kind word, a joke or a good story."
Born Oct. 25, 1915, in Ainsworth, Neb., Harold Lewis was the son of Vern and Alice Lewis. He attended Gresham schools, playing fullback on the Gresham High School football team and in college. He attended Gonzaga University and earned degrees from Oregon College of Education and Oregon State University.
He and Marguerite Zink were married Dec. 22, 1940, in Portland.
He taught in Portland for a year and was a teacher/principal in Tillamook before entering the Navy during World War II. After completing his military service he taught agriculture at Dayton High School, where he also coached wrestling. In 1954, he moved to McMinnville and opened the Mutual of New York insurance agency he ran for many years. He also was manager of the Yamhill County Fair for six years. After retiring, he and his wife moved to a Salem retirement center and later to Hillsboro, to be near their daughter.
He was former president of the McMinnville Rotary Club and also belonged to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Union Lodge AF&AM and Linfield College Boosters. He belonged to McMinnville United Methodist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Katherine Ostlund of Hillsboro; a son, David Lewis of Joseph; a sister, LaVern Shelley of Portland; two brothers, Dale Lewis of Bend and Roy Lewis of Naselle, Wash.; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife in 1998. Memorial contributions may be made to Elks Eye Foundation or Washington County Hospice.
Harold Vern Lewis, former state legislator, McMinnville City Council president and longtime McMinnville businessman, died Aug. 6 in Hillsboro. He was 83.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in McMinnville United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Steve Ross officiating.
A Democrat, Lewis represented Yamhill County in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1966 to 1970. He was one of those rare politicians who enjoyed the support of voters from both parties, said County Commissioner Ted Lopuszynski, Lewis' longtime friend. "I think he had as many friends among Republicans as Democrats. It was very unusual for a Democrat to be elected in Yamhill County at that time," Lopuszynski observed.
McMinnville attorney Dave Haugeberg had known Lewis for more than 30 years. "Harold had a special ability to look at both sides of an issue and to strike a balance between them, on even the most difficult issues, with a very fair result," Haugeberg said. "He was able to get both Democrats and Republicans to sit down and work with him."
As a legislator, Lewis was instrumental in passing the state's first guide dog law, which required that the dogs be allowed to accompany their owners into public places. He also helped pass legislation allowing Yamhill County to establish a retirement plan for its employees.
He was appointed to the McMinnville City Council in 1972 and re-elected twice, serving three terms as president of the council. He retired from the council in 1979 to focus his energy on recovery from a stroke he had suffered the previous year.
"Harold was always interested in what we could do to make McMinnville a better place, and in making it happen. Even after his stroke, he kept serving on the council, perhaps longer than was best for him, because so many people urged him to try to continue," Haugeberg said.
Lewis was known for speaking his mind. A News-Register editorial published after his resignation in 1979 called it "a loss to (the City Council) of an important quality - a councilman who always spoke his mind without worrying if it ruffled a few feathers. ... When something seemed wrong to him, he never failed to state that feeling in words that people could understand."
But Lopuszynski noted, when Lewis spoke his mind, it usually was on a positive note and often accompanied by humor. "He always enjoyed life and always had a kind word, a joke or a good story."
Born Oct. 25, 1915, in Ainsworth, Neb., Harold Lewis was the son of Vern and Alice Lewis. He attended Gresham schools, playing fullback on the Gresham High School football team and in college. He attended Gonzaga University and earned degrees from Oregon College of Education and Oregon State University.
He and Marguerite Zink were married Dec. 22, 1940, in Portland.
He taught in Portland for a year and was a teacher/principal in Tillamook before entering the Navy during World War II. After completing his military service he taught agriculture at Dayton High School, where he also coached wrestling. In 1954, he moved to McMinnville and opened the Mutual of New York insurance agency he ran for many years. He also was manager of the Yamhill County Fair for six years. After retiring, he and his wife moved to a Salem retirement center and later to Hillsboro, to be near their daughter.
He was former president of the McMinnville Rotary Club and also belonged to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Union Lodge AF&AM and Linfield College Boosters. He belonged to McMinnville United Methodist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Katherine Ostlund of Hillsboro; a son, David Lewis of Joseph; a sister, LaVern Shelley of Portland; two brothers, Dale Lewis of Bend and Roy Lewis of Naselle, Wash.; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife in 1998. Memorial contributions may be made to Elks Eye Foundation or Washington County Hospice.
CSP US Navy World War II
Harold Vern Lewis, former state legislator, McMinnville City Council president and longtime McMinnville businessman, died Aug. 6 in Hillsboro. He was 83.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in McMinnville United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Steve Ross officiating.
A Democrat, Lewis represented Yamhill County in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1966 to 1970. He was one of those rare politicians who enjoyed the support of voters from both parties, said County Commissioner Ted Lopuszynski, Lewis' longtime friend. "I think he had as many friends among Republicans as Democrats. It was very unusual for a Democrat to be elected in Yamhill County at that time," Lopuszynski observed.
McMinnville attorney Dave Haugeberg had known Lewis for more than 30 years. "Harold had a special ability to look at both sides of an issue and to strike a balance between them, on even the most difficult issues, with a very fair result," Haugeberg said. "He was able to get both Democrats and Republicans to sit down and work with him."
As a legislator, Lewis was instrumental in passing the state's first guide dog law, which required that the dogs be allowed to accompany their owners into public places. He also helped pass legislation allowing Yamhill County to establish a retirement plan for its employees.
He was appointed to the McMinnville City Council in 1972 and re-elected twice, serving three terms as president of the council. He retired from the council in 1979 to focus his energy on recovery from a stroke he had suffered the previous year.
"Harold was always interested in what we could do to make McMinnville a better place, and in making it happen. Even after his stroke, he kept serving on the council, perhaps longer than was best for him, because so many people urged him to try to continue," Haugeberg said.
Lewis was known for speaking his mind. A News-Register editorial published after his resignation in 1979 called it "a loss to (the City Council) of an important quality - a councilman who always spoke his mind without worrying if it ruffled a few feathers. ... When something seemed wrong to him, he never failed to state that feeling in words that people could understand."
But Lopuszynski noted, when Lewis spoke his mind, it usually was on a positive note and often accompanied by humor. "He always enjoyed life and always had a kind word, a joke or a good story."
Born Oct. 25, 1915, in Ainsworth, Neb., Harold Lewis was the son of Vern and Alice Lewis. He attended Gresham schools, playing fullback on the Gresham High School football team and in college. He attended Gonzaga University and earned degrees from Oregon College of Education and Oregon State University.
He and Marguerite Zink were married Dec. 22, 1940, in Portland.
He taught in Portland for a year and was a teacher/principal in Tillamook before entering the Navy during World War II. After completing his military service he taught agriculture at Dayton High School, where he also coached wrestling. In 1954, he moved to McMinnville and opened the Mutual of New York insurance agency he ran for many years. He also was manager of the Yamhill County Fair for six years. After retiring, he and his wife moved to a Salem retirement center and later to Hillsboro, to be near their daughter.
He was former president of the McMinnville Rotary Club and also belonged to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Union Lodge AF&AM and Linfield College Boosters. He belonged to McMinnville United Methodist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Katherine Ostlund of Hillsboro; a son, David Lewis of Joseph; a sister, LaVern Shelley of Portland; two brothers, Dale Lewis of Bend and Roy Lewis of Naselle, Wash.; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife in 1998. Memorial contributions may be made to Elks Eye Foundation or Washington County Hospice.
Harold Vern Lewis, former state legislator, McMinnville City Council president and longtime McMinnville businessman, died Aug. 6 in Hillsboro. He was 83.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in McMinnville United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Steve Ross officiating.
A Democrat, Lewis represented Yamhill County in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1966 to 1970. He was one of those rare politicians who enjoyed the support of voters from both parties, said County Commissioner Ted Lopuszynski, Lewis' longtime friend. "I think he had as many friends among Republicans as Democrats. It was very unusual for a Democrat to be elected in Yamhill County at that time," Lopuszynski observed.
McMinnville attorney Dave Haugeberg had known Lewis for more than 30 years. "Harold had a special ability to look at both sides of an issue and to strike a balance between them, on even the most difficult issues, with a very fair result," Haugeberg said. "He was able to get both Democrats and Republicans to sit down and work with him."
As a legislator, Lewis was instrumental in passing the state's first guide dog law, which required that the dogs be allowed to accompany their owners into public places. He also helped pass legislation allowing Yamhill County to establish a retirement plan for its employees.
He was appointed to the McMinnville City Council in 1972 and re-elected twice, serving three terms as president of the council. He retired from the council in 1979 to focus his energy on recovery from a stroke he had suffered the previous year.
"Harold was always interested in what we could do to make McMinnville a better place, and in making it happen. Even after his stroke, he kept serving on the council, perhaps longer than was best for him, because so many people urged him to try to continue," Haugeberg said.
Lewis was known for speaking his mind. A News-Register editorial published after his resignation in 1979 called it "a loss to (the City Council) of an important quality - a councilman who always spoke his mind without worrying if it ruffled a few feathers. ... When something seemed wrong to him, he never failed to state that feeling in words that people could understand."
But Lopuszynski noted, when Lewis spoke his mind, it usually was on a positive note and often accompanied by humor. "He always enjoyed life and always had a kind word, a joke or a good story."
Born Oct. 25, 1915, in Ainsworth, Neb., Harold Lewis was the son of Vern and Alice Lewis. He attended Gresham schools, playing fullback on the Gresham High School football team and in college. He attended Gonzaga University and earned degrees from Oregon College of Education and Oregon State University.
He and Marguerite Zink were married Dec. 22, 1940, in Portland.
He taught in Portland for a year and was a teacher/principal in Tillamook before entering the Navy during World War II. After completing his military service he taught agriculture at Dayton High School, where he also coached wrestling. In 1954, he moved to McMinnville and opened the Mutual of New York insurance agency he ran for many years. He also was manager of the Yamhill County Fair for six years. After retiring, he and his wife moved to a Salem retirement center and later to Hillsboro, to be near their daughter.
He was former president of the McMinnville Rotary Club and also belonged to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Union Lodge AF&AM and Linfield College Boosters. He belonged to McMinnville United Methodist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Katherine Ostlund of Hillsboro; a son, David Lewis of Joseph; a sister, LaVern Shelley of Portland; two brothers, Dale Lewis of Bend and Roy Lewis of Naselle, Wash.; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife in 1998. Memorial contributions may be made to Elks Eye Foundation or Washington County Hospice.
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