Rob Lewis

(From Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary)

Mr. Robert Dean “Rob” Lewis, Jr., 56, of Joplin, Missouri, departed this life on Thursday, August 12, 2021, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri.

Rob entered this life on August 23, 1964, to Robert, Sr. and Judy Lewis at McCune-Brooks hospital in Carthage Missouri on the morning of August 23, 1964.

Three brothers, Mike, Mark, and Steven; a daughter, Morgan McLees; step daughter, Paige Beck; grandson, Greyland McLees; and granddaughters, Charlee and Codee Beck; and sons-in-law, Statler and Justin.

Rob graduated from Parkwood High School in 1982, where he was very active in music and theater. He was president of the music department and played the roles of Danny Zuko in Grease as well as the stage manager in “OUR TOWN”. As a senior in the drama department he was awarded “outstanding senior” and “best actor”. In music he was a member of the concert choir, choraliers, boys quartet, boys double quartet, and went to state competition as a soloist. He attended Missouri Southern University for two years at which point he started working for UPS.
He married Christina Beaver and had one daughter, Morgan, the absolute light of his life.

After a 35 year UPS career he retired following a severe injury. Through the years Rob was the crew chief for brother, Mike on Project V and Jerry Cobaugh of Cobaugh racing drag bike teams earning the crew chief of the year at Mokan Dragway. Rob enjoyed hunting everything and trained labs for field and water. He and Morgan also worked their dogs for Show Me Birds hunting resort in Kansas. He always claimed the best times of his life were hunting trips and drag racing with daughter Morgan abs brother Mike and digging for rusty treasure with wife Shawn. Not a daddy in the world was ever as proud of a child as he was of Morgan.

After being trapped in the 2011, Joplin tornado he joined a search and rescue team and trained a new puppy, Mountain Doo, for search and rescue as well human remains detection. After his injury he and Mountain Doo retired from the team. In 2017, he married, Shawn Fenix, and they worked and lived on the family farm taking care of some 150 cattle. He loved spending time with his grandson, Greyland, on the farm and every other way.

Over the years Rob became very active in Freemasonry. He served as Master of Carthage lodge #197 as well as district Deputy Grand Master of the 45th district of Missouri, initiating many young men into the mystery’s of Freemasonry.

He enjoyed many cold winters hunting from a duck blind on Spring River with friends Brent, Mike, Zane, Matt and always had a guest or two. They were really great times. He referred to the blind as his happy place.

After the tornado took his antique fishing lure collection of 20 years he started collecting old advertising signs and made many friends all over the country through that. He and Shawn enjoyed the search for signs and other “junk” through swap meets, sign shows and auctions. He was a partner with, Larry Ross, in one of only 7 international antique fishing lure shows and on several occasions appraised old tackle at Bass Pro In Springfield.

Rob was one of 6 who put on an annual Vrod Rally in Kansas City for several years. When they stopped, the original organizers started “save the males” and rode on long trips once a year. They were lifelong friends. He always loved those trips with Danno, Bob, Okie, Farmer, FNG.

A visitation and viewing will be held on Tuesday evening from 5-7:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin, Missouri, with a Masonic service to begin at 7:00 p.m. Arrangements are under the direction of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin.