The memorial service for Michael Lewis will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Bonnerup Funeral Service with visitation one hour prior.

Michael was born in Santa Rosa, Calif., on April 23, 1963, to Jesse W. Lewis and Margaret Ann (Miller) Lewis.

Michael lived with his parents for three years in Montero, Bolivia, returning to the United States in 1972. He graduated from Jefferson High School in Rockford, Ill., in June of 1982. He obtained an associate’s degree from Santa Rosa Junior College in 1984 and a bachelor of arts degree in the classics from Rockford College in Rockford in 1996. Michael worked for several professional groups including Pioneer Life Insurance and T.K. Group in Rockford. He spent three years at St. Gregory’s Abby in Two Rivers, Mich. He was currently enrolled at Kishwaukee School of Nursing in Malta, Ill.

Michael was a true bookworm and loved listening to classical music with his late stepfather, Jim Michna, and enjoyed intellectual debates on many important subjects such as: “what makes a dirty word ‘dirty’?” with his brother Benjamin. As a small child Michael thrived on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches; however, he refused to eat even one green pea cleverly hidden (no!) in mashed potatoes! As an adult, Michael’s favorite junk food was popcorn, with or without M&Ms mixed in.

Michael was a longtime member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Rockford. The Emmanuel family has been blessed many times over by his compassionate and caring nature. He will be especially missed by the youth at Emmanuel who were very fond of Michael and enjoyed serving with him as acolytes.

Michael is survived by his father, Jess Lewis of New Mexico; mother, Margaret “Peggy” Michna of Albert Lea; brother, Benjamin “Fawn” Lewis of Colorado Springs, Colo.; half sisters, Anna Lewis, Joleena Lewis and Angel Taylor, all of California; aunt, Joan Reed of Albert Lea; uncle, Steve (Mary) Pellegrini of Oregon; numerous nieces and nephews including Andrew Lewis of Covina, Calif.; and numerous cousins including Reed Steindel of St. Louis Park.

As Fawn Lewis remarked, “Mike was a wonderful soul” He will be missed by all who loved him.