Memorial
Thomas John Lewis, 79, of Shellsburg, Iowa, passed away peacefully August 20, 2026, at The Gardens of Cedar Rapids.
John was born on January 18, 1947, in Vinton, Iowa to Thomas and Helen (Bishop) Lewis. He graduated from Shellsburg High School in 1965 and went on to farm and work in various factories in Cedar Rapids. After many years he retired from General Mills in 2006.
He married Peggy McIlrath on January 13, 1968. They would go on to cherish 58 years of marriage that was blessed with three children: Trisha, Tom and Tammy. Together they built a life focused on hard work, determination and honesty.
John was a lifelong farmer working on the farm as a child and then later owning his own farm when he and Peggy moved to a farm outside Vinton. They farmed there 16 years and moved back to Lewis Bottoms to farm in 1995. There they raised crops and cattle and in 2004 they started their successful horse boarding business which continues today. This endeavor brought many challenges but also wonderful memories, friends and acquaintances throughout the years.
John was pretty much a home body, but after Peggy earned a work trip to Mexico everything changed! They enjoyed many years of traveling to Ixtapa, Mexico where they made many friends and enjoyed the warmth of the sun during the winter months. John didn’t have much for hobbies. Work was pretty much it, which meant there was always something to do on the farm whether it was bailing hay, fixing fence, shots to give, mowing lawn or cleaning pens, he rarely sat still. John was known for his hard work and taught his children this as well and after a day of bailing hay there was usually a trip to Pizza Hut as a reward. He collected a few things, and his most prized collections included his John Deere 30 series tractors and Case tractors which were housed in the shed he named John’s Toy Box.
John was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2021. He lived with the disease and managed the symptoms quite well until the last 6 months.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Peggy; children Trisha (Todd) Sheehan of Bird Island, Minnesota, Tom (Leslie) Lewis and Tammy (Cory) Barta of Palo, Iowa; grandchildren Emily (Evan) Peppel, Andrew (Katie) Sheehan, Tate Sheehan, Zach Saunders, Kailey (Dalton) Baum, Talea Lewis, Zkyaire Lewis, Zyah Lewis, Nae Lewis, and Victor Lewis; great grandchildren Bennett Peppel & Charlotte Baum; brother Lee Lewis of Palo; in-laws Gary and Kathryn McIlrath of Iowa City and Allen & Barb McIlrath of LeClaire and several nieces and a nephew.
He was preceded in death by an infant son; his parents Thomas and Helen Lewis; mother in-law and father in-law Clifford and Hulda McIlrath; nephew Ryan Lewis and sister in-law Marcia Lewis.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 30, 2026, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, August 31, 2026, at Shellsburg Cemetery.
In lieu of plants and flowers, memorial contributions may be directed toward the family which will be shared with John’s favorite organizations.