Wendy Lewis was born in Chariton, Iowa on August 16, 1948.  Although she suffered with epilepsy from the age of two, Wendy attended public school in Chariton through the 7th grade.  Wendy was also a Girl Scout and a member of 4-H, she attended church camp, took swimming lessons, did household chores, and participated in several vocational rehab programs in Des Moines and Iowa City.   She went on summer camping trips with her family and enjoyed visiting relatives in several other states.  At the age of 24, in 1972, Wendy became one of the first residents of Handicap Village, an innovative new living arrangement for the developmentally disabled in Clear Lake, Iowa.  Wendy thrived in that setting where she volunteered at the Village Thrift Store and participated in swimming, gardening, indoor and outdoor games, and various arts and crafts (she particularly like ceramics).  Wendy also enjoyed attending Easter Seals Camp Sunnyside in Des Moines each summer.  One of Wendy’s ambitions was to eventually move to a group home.  In 1994, after more than 20 years in Clear Lake, she reached that goal as Handicap Village evolved into Opportunity Village (now known as “One Vision”) and Wendy moved to a group home in Eagle Grove, Iowa.  Wendy loved her newfound independence and worked at a vocational workshop in Clarion and Humboldt.   In 2014, at the age of 66, Wendy moved into a group home in Garner, Iowa that she shared with three other women.  Needing more medical attention and support, Wendy moved in 2023 to the Westview Care Facility in Britt, Iowa where she was well taken care of and lived comfortably until passing away on April 28, 2026.

Wendy is survived by her brothers, Clark and Greg Lewis, sisters-in-law, Kay and Sue, nieces Amy and Jenny, and nephews, Matt and John.  Friends and relatives will gather at the Fielding Funeral Home on August 14 at 2pm prior to a graveside service at the Chariton Cemetery.   A separate memorial service will take place at the United Methodist Church in Garner, Iowa on the following Sunday, August 16 at 2pm.  Donations in Wendy’s name can be made to One Vision (https://give.onevision.org/).   

Services and family support are under the direction of Clark Fielding of Fielding Funeral Home.