Joel W. Lewis Obituary

To the Lewis Family,

May God be with you each day, giving you comfort, peace, and joy.

The sacrifice of Sgt. Lewis will not be forgotten.

A Thankful American.

Years have passed since last I saw Joel many years now. I first met him in Korea, he helped me to get adjusted to life there. After leaving Korea, I was assigned to 5-20 at Ft Lewis, wouldn’t you know it, not just in Joel’s platoon, but as his roommate. Lol I got out after 5-20s first deployment I was at work in Vancouver WA When I heard about his passing. I just want you to know that he is still very much in the hearts and minds of those that knew him; I want you to know that I talk about guys like your son often to my children, so as to make them aware the cost of freedom. I hope this finds you well , and in good spirits. I wish you a happy Memorial Day 2021. Godspeed Joel.

Hello,
We would like to express our deepest condolences and also let the Lewis Family and friends know that we will be sending Care Packages to deployed troops this week and we'll be dedicating several of these to your loved one. Each package will carry the name, photo and the hometown of Joel W. Lewis US Army Sergeant. We realize that this is a small tribute, but we do this with all respect and sincerity and we want you to know that it is made possible by thousands of like-minded individuals from across the American youth hockey community. We will not forget. May God Bless you and keep you strong.
Sincerely,
Charlie Gili & Family
On Behalf of the US Hockey Players Support Our Troops Campaign

I had the honor of carrying Joel's banner in the Armed Forces Day parade in Bremerton today. Thank you for your service.

Remembering Joel on his birthday - and sending our loving thoughts to Gale and his family.
Kim and Jim

Always remembered

I love to read the comments in your guest book. I know you are always with us. I am grateful that I can walk with your banner in Veterans Day parades to honor you and your brothers in arms. All too young to leave us. I know you will be standing beside Jesus to meet me one day and it will be a glorious reuniting. I love you always son. Mom

Miss you Joel

This Memorial Day remembering and honoring Joel and all other service members who gave their lives. We will never forget.

I think of you often, and your second cousin Jamie talks about you a lot ...xo

Gone but always remebered thank you for being a true hero.

Joel - your smile, like your memory, shines across the years. Your life is best defined by the manner in which you lived it and while today brings bitter sweet memories to all who love and miss you, I believe that the world is the better for your courage, humanity and selfless service.
Gale - as ever, you and the family are much in our thoughts - from our home to yours, loving hugs today. Kim and Jim

Not a day goes by that you are absent from my thoughts Joel

That is such a great smile Joel - your family miss you greatly but you can be proud of the way they carry on. You won't ever be forgotten - your legacy and memory remain shining bright.
from Kim

Hi there Joel - your birthday & we're thinking of you, your Mom and all who love you. You'll never be forgotten.

We still love and miss you.

[email protected]

thanks for all that you have done i will never forgot you

Hey Joel, how's this for a coincidence? I would have been writing on this site in a very few days and then, this afternoon, I received an email from your Mom :-) So I guess you're still looking after everyone, keeping us all in touch. You are missed greatly but loved and respected even more.
from Kim

It has been almost 6 years that you have been gone. I cannot even describe how it feels to not have you with us. I know you are in a better place and worshiping. I will see you one day again. We miss you everyday. You would love your nephew Ryan and we would have to split the two of you up...:) You will never be forgotten. Love Mom.

Joel's courage, dedication and service to his country will not be forgotten - and his memory remains bright to all who knew and loved him.
Sent with the hope that time is bringing a sense of peace to his parents, his extended family and all who miss his bright, cheerful presence in their lives today.

Forever Remembered Sgt Joel Lewis as another Hero that paid the ultimate price so that we could have all. Thank you Sgt Lewis and God watch over your family.

To the family and friends of Sgt. Joel W. Lewis:
Always remembering Joel. "Some gave all."

No particular reason for writing today Joel; just wanted to drop by. Your Mom stays in touch and that always brings you to mind as well - you and that wonderful smile.
You have little nephews who are thriving and bringing joy to your family - they sure have big boots to fill in the years ahead !
from Kim

Joel, may you and all our soldiers never be forgotten for the strength, courage and life you gave for our freedom. May our God in Heaven continue to bless your family and friends today and always.

Proud mom of
SPC Harry (Buck) Winkler III
KIA 11/12/2006 Samarra, Iraq

Honoring the life and service of Sgt. Joel Lewis; his memory remains clear and bright for all who know and love him - and an inspiration for those who came to know him after his passing.

God bless you and your family Joel - rest in peace.

Remembering you always my son. We will never forget your sacrifice. We miss your awesome bright smile and big laugh. You would love your new nephew Ryan. Your spirit lives on in this new life. Love always Mom

To the family and friends of Sgt. Joel W. Lewis:
Please accept my remembrance of Joel on the anniversary of his passing and know that he will never be forgotten.
Peggy Childers
www.IraqWarHeroes.org

Forever Remembered an American Hero.

To the family and friends of Sgt. Joel W. Lewis:
Remembering Joel on the anniversary of his passing. May our fallen heroes never be forgotten!
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org

God Bless you Joel. You are our Hero.
You are and Always will be in the hearts of my son Larry, and I.

We are always thinking of you Joel. R.I.P.
The Raz family.

Lovingly Remember, Uncle Rod and Auntie Linda

Your Aunt and Uncle miss your smiling face.

Rest in peace.

Forever Remembered.

Thankyou Joel.

I can't believe it's been three years since that day that forever changed our lives. We miss you, Joel and think about you everyday.

THINKING OF YOU JOEL

Your memory shines bright Joel - and your wonderful smile continues to show an infectious, bubbling sense of humor and a wry sense of the absurd.
Rest in peace young man - rest in peace - you are loved by all who knew you best in your lifetime, and death has taken nothing from their love or memories.
Gale, no additional words are needed today - we understand one another, and that's a gift from Joel.with loving thoughts from Kim and Jim

Joel - you are so loved, so missed and so very dear to those who wait to see you again. Your smile, (like your memory and your story), continues to shine across time. You brought your Mom and me together - as strangers at first and now good 'far away' friends; she has been a tower of strength, a source of laughter and a shoulder to lean on for me, and for many others - you must be very proud of her. (She also comes up with the most amazing odds and ends from the internet and they're always fascinating). God bless you and your family Joel - rest in peace.
Gale - the words you left here never fade, no matter how often we hear them.
From our home to yours, from our hearts to yours - Kim

In the rising of the sun and its going down,
We remember them.

In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,
We will remember them.

In the opening buds and in the rebirth of spring,
We remember them.

In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer,
We remember them.

In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn,
We remember them.

In the beginning of the year and when it ends,
We will remember them.

When we are weary and in need of strength,
We will remember them.

When we are lost and are sick of heart,
We remember them.

When we have Joys we yearn to share,
We remember them.

So long as we live, they too shall live,
For they are now a part of us,
As we remember them.
RIP Dear Son - We miss you every day

I am an Aunt, who loved a little boy that grew into a man that we his family are very PROUD of, They say that time does heal, it can turn your tears into laughter, but out of nowhere that terrible gut wrenching pain rears its ugly head and all you can do is ride out this wave of inner turmoil. Joel's loss is felt every day, we miss his smile and his kind heart and we mourn for what we have lost but also for what Joel lost. There is a special place in my heart for Joel, now and forever.

Joel - I just felt like stopping by to say hullo. Your beautiful smile makes it difficult to comprehend that you're no longer here in person but you remain loved, cared about and special to all those blessed to know you in your lifetime - and for the rest of us, well, we're pretty fortunate too in getting to know your story - and your Mom is a special blessing to me.

Joel, I didn't mean to miss your call to Heaven date this year. You have such a smile and I truly wish I had gotten to know you. I will meet Gale for the first time this year and yet she has been part of our family since your death. That's the Gold Star Family. I know that you will send hugs from above to be felt and while you're passing them out tell my son Buck "hi" for me to.
Your mom is great and you should be very proud of her.

http://goldstarfamilysupportgroup.com

In Memory of My son
SPC Harry (Buck) Winkler III
KIA 11/12/2006
CO-A 2-505th PIR 82nd Airborne

To the family of Sgt. Joel W. Lewis:
Joel gave the ultimate sacrifice and will be held in the hearts of Americans forever. I cannot and will not let our fallen heroes be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to you. "Some gave all."
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org

Thanking you again, Joel for the ultimate sacrifice! Rest in peace, thinking of your loved ones today. YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

Thinking of Joel's loved ones today and we want you to know he will not be forgotten.
Thank you Sgt. Joel W. Lewis, for your bravery and sacrifice in the service of the Land that I Love.
Rest in Peace.

Pat Shoukry - NYC (6 miles from "Ground Zero")

http://www.myspace.com/CB_NYC

Hi Joel - we will be midway between Cyprus and Australia (and not near a computer !!)on the sixth, so this note is a little early, but you and your Mom and your family and friends will be in our thoughts more than ever that day.
Gale, thanks for all your friendship and support over these past months - Joel is still looking after all of us I guess :-)
Kim and Jim

Joel, our time together was brief but precious. While shooting hoops, we each had something to learn and something to teach. You taught me to be a better person and I love you for it. You will have a permanent place in my heart...like all good friends do. Until we meet again.

My condolences to the Joel Lewis Family. I was at the services at Tahoma, I have visited Joel's site to leave flowers, and will continue to do so. My son is in 3/2 and is going for his 3rd and final tour; it could have been me instead of you there that day at Tahoma. We won't forget and your sorrow is my sorrow, in that I can feel some of your pain. And all other families of lost soldiers. Bless you. Pray for strength.

We love our Soldiers! We love our country and we cannot express enough love and compassion to the families. War does not discriminate – It breaks my heart to see the faces of the fallen. We want to give this gift to you. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization! Over 1,300 portraits have been completed and shipped to the parents and or spouse - at no cost as this is a gift from one American to another!
Contact us directly at [email protected] or go to www.heropaintings.com. If you have already had a portrait completed, we pray that you are enjoying the portrait and God Bless You.
Sincerely,
Kenna

Dearest Gale and Family,
I come to you with opened arms, with love and prayers for your fallen hero...now in GOD'S ARMY. I salute SGT JOEL LEWIS, as he stands next to my SGT ADAM KOHLHAAS in our heavenly kingdom. What brave men, what honorable soldiers to have given the ultimate sacrifice. Our hearts are connected forever, we share each others pain.

PAULA KOHLHAAS MILLER
SGT ADAM J KOHLHAAS~ KIA 04-21-08~IRAQ

Thank you for your service and sacrifice to our country.

Sgt. Joel W Lewis, although I did not know you personally I have had the honor of learning more about you through your mom's ongoing dedications to you. You are a true hero and your memory will live on forever.
Gale I think of you often and I'm sure that Joel is so proud of you for handling all of this in the manner that you have.

You will always be our hero Joel. We will never forget.

Remembering Joel on his birthday, December 2. 1978 - 2007
Rest in Peace Joel and know that you are loved, respected and remembered.

Joel, first of all thank you for the brave sacrifice you made for my freedom. rest assure you will never be forgotten. to Joel's family I am so sorry for the loss of Joel, I know more then an American hero he was your family and my heart breaks for you all. we dont know eachother but now we are forever joined, my nephew PFC Aaron J Ward age 19 was killed by small arms fire on May 6 2008 while serving in Iraq he was also from Fort Lewis Wa. I miss him more then ever. may God bless us all and protect the so many other soldiers still fighting. rest in Peace Joel, America loves you
Proud Army aunt of PFC Aaron J Ward 170th military police, the dragonslayers

What a beautiful man- and the photos show a very great spirit full of joy. I am so sorry for the loss. Clearly, it is a loss we all feel.
May he rest in peace.

Joel, God bless you soldier and thank you for your brave and honorable service to a grateful nation and for paying the ultimate price for our freedom.. You are now in great company with God and so many other fallen hero's before and after you. On 5/6/08 my nephew PFC Aaron J. Ward was killed in action in Iraq and my final promise to him was to never forget him and our fallen hero’s, we will never forget their commitment and sacrifice. Lewis family, words cannot express the pain we now share, but our families will forever have a bond and we will be thinking of Joel and your family and will keep you in our thoughts & prayers. Please accept my heart felt condolences and my prayer that god help you cope with this tragic loss and may the memories of your HERO carry you through each day. From one Gold Star family to another!

You are remembered and respected. Thank you Sgt Lewis!

Dear Joel,
I wanted to honor your memory today on the anniversary of your ultimate sacrifice. Our family recently lost our beloved Cpl Kyle Wilks in Afghanistan on April 15th 2008 and has joined you and his fellow military brothers in heaven. The sacrifice that each of you has made will never be forgotten. Until we see you all again, you and your family will stay in our prayers.

Hi Joel - it's late Monday afternoon, May 5. I'm about to email your Mom to let her know that we are mindful of tomorrow's significance. You would be so proud of the courage she's shown this 12 months, and the way that she has kept moving forward. We hope she will be surrounded by family and friends, with much love and support. I know that there will be tears aplenty, but I also think that it will be a celebration of your life - a life you filled with action, excitement, happiness and fun. Joel, you did your duty; no one would have expected less of you, just as no one could have done more. Your beautiful smile is beaming out beside where I'm writing now, and while I wasn't fortunate to know you in life, I know now that I would have been proud to call you friend.
Rest in Peace, and may God bless you, your family and fiancee as well as all the friends who miss your presence in their lives. Kim and Jim Doha QATAR

Hey there Joel. It's long overdue, but today I'm finally here to sign your memorial page and it's my honor to salute your courage, service, honor, values and ultimately, your sacrifice.
I've been emailing back and forth with your Mom - (as we Mothers tend to do) and I've learned much more about you than what is written on the profile I first viewed last year. You're greatly missed, by those who love you best, your family, your friends and your community. Your Mom makes the time to write on so many of these pages, and because only someone who has also suffered such a loss can fully comprehend the suffering of others, I'm sure that they too gain more than a measure of comfort from her words. Rest well Joel. You were faithful to the end, and you will be remembered.

To the family and friends of Sgt. Joel Lewis.....I am so sorry for your loss. May God comfort you and lessen your grief with each passing day. I am also an army mom....I share your pain.
May your hero angel Joel
rest with our Father in heaven. God bless.

Please go to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXAX__FZYg4

This is a wonderful video tribute to Joel and the 5 other soldiers killed on 5/6/07

Gale Poindexter
Proud mother of Sgt Joel W Lewis,
KIA 5/6/07 Baquebah, Iraq

I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to your family. I didn't know your son, but I want you to know that I am so very sorry for your loss, and we grieve with you at the loss of another American hero.

To SGT Joel Lewis man Iam glad i got to know you as a person. We went threw alot in basic trainning together. In that three months we were stuck a fort benning i seen you change and I never thought i would see the day that this has happen.I remember when we were sitting in basic and 9-11 happened and our drill SGT told us that we were going to go to war and that some of us wouldnt come back but i had no idea it would of been one of us that went to korea. May you rest in peace and your family know that you did it because you were following the 7 army values. Loyalty,duty,respect,selfless service,honor,Integrity and personal courage. Signed your battle buddy from 2-58 ITB SSG Vincent

I did not know you Sgt. Joel W. Lewis and yet you are a son to all Americans and we grieve over your passing. My heart felt sympathies and sincere prayers go to the Lewis family and friends. Thank you, Joel, for your sacrifice for freedom. Now, rest in peace, son.

Thank you for your courage and sacrifice. I am forever grateful. You are truly a Hero.

Sincerely, Angelica Swiger Cole
Sister of Sgt.Jason W Swiger kia 3/25/07 Ba'qubah, Iraq

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the LEWIS family knowing now what JOELS family has always known.Is reason enough to se to it that our HEROS are NEVER forgotten,Rest well brother Joel that star spangled banner shall FOREVER wave,Your name stamped in steel FOREVER clutched in the tallons,Your spirit shall FOREVER soar high in the skies in the symbol of our great nation.COME by NORTH--COME by SOUTH--COME by EAST--COME by WEST.We were all gathered and united on that great day as strangers and upon those last [4] spoken words we are FOREVER BROTHERS..to Josh.. H-MINUS!!.....SEMPER FI. .B.V.C.

Please accept our sincere condolences on the loss of your loved one and our deepest gratitude for the sacrifice both your family and he made in service to this country. May God bless each family member and friend with peace and comfort. May you feel held in
the prayers of a grateful nation.

In loving memory of our nephew
US Army Spec Philip "Cody" Ford
C Co 3rd/509th Fort Richardson Ak.
KIA Baghdad Iraq 12/10/2006

AMEC Ron Baker & family
United States Navy

I just looked at your beautiful photos which depict a vibrant young man, very connected to his family and friends. My heart aches for you. Rest in peace,Joel.