Lewis W. Hodge Sr.

Lewis Wilford Hodge Sr, or "Lew" as everyone called him, was born on August
10 th, 1937 to the late Aaron S. Hodge and Josie M. Cook, in Rolla, Missouri. He
passed away on October 7 th, 2025 at the age of 88, after a battle with cancer.
Lew received his education from the Rolla Public schools and later received his
GED while serving his country in the United States Navy while stationed in the
Grand Turk Islands and Bermuda.
1959 he married Janet M. Miller. To this union of 24years, 3 beautiful children
were born; Lewis W. Hodge Jr., Angela M. Hodge Burns, and Christopher W.
Hodge.
A man of many trades and talents, Lew was an excellent mechanic and was a
master carpenter. He often came up with little gadgets for making life simpler.
Lew worked as a Weight Inspector before becoming a Missouri State Highway
Patrolman. He served on the force for 29 years, retiring as a sergeant in 1994.
During his employment at the patrol he met his long time love and companion,
Jan Kudlack. Her daughter Marci VandeVoorde, husband Daniel, and
grandchildren, Marci and Daniel were part of his extended family.
Lew was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was blessed to have many adventures
throughout his 31 years of retirement in Canada, Wyoming, Colorado, and Florida.
He regularly fished the Osage River at Bagnell Dam near Osage Beach Missouri.
The annual deer camp near Ft. Leonard Wood, created many memories over the
last 40 years. It was a highlight for his children, grandchildren and other family
and friends.
Lew was an active member of Vichy Community Church. He accepted Christ as
his savior in 1959 while attending a revival at Spring Creek Baptist church in Rolla,
Missouri. Knowing this gives his family much peace that he is with his Lord and
Savior today.
Preceding Lew in death were his parents, Aaron Hodge and Josie Cook. He lost his
beloved son, Christopher Wayne Hodge in 2023. 12 siblings have passed before
him, Aaron, Chester, Russell, Arthur, Elmer, Herman, Clarence, his identical, twin
brother Riley, Lloyd, Paul and two beautiful sisters, Iva Hodge Yates, and Marjorie
Hodge Light. One sister remains to carry on his family legacy, Janette Hodge
Cox.
Survivors also include: Son, Lewis W. Hodge Jr. and wife, Willeen Hodge of
Moore, Oklahoma, and Angela Hodge Burns of Exeter, Missouri.
Lew's legacy includes 12 grandchildren. Brandon, Brent and Bryant Hodge.
Shannon Burns Bartkoski, Darrell, and Clayton Burns. Douglas, Jacob, Jessica, and
Charlee Hodge and step grandchildren Megan Geray and Gabby Garay Register,
He was blessed to have 12 great grandchildren: Luca, Liam, Colt, and Brynlee
Hodge, Aiden Graves, Bliss Hodge, Trevor Appel, Emma Louise Smith, Mason,
Jensen, Samuel, and Sawyer Burns.
2 Corinthians 5:8, As believers in Jesus Christ we believe that to be absent from
the body is to be present with the Lord! For this reason, we celebrate the life of
our father, grandfather, and friend Lew Hodge.
A funeral service for Lewis W. Hodge, Sr. will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at the Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla. Interment will follow in the Macedonia Cemetery. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Oct, 17 at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions in memory of Lewis Hodge, Sr. are suggested to the Vichy Community Church Youth Group.