Joaquin “Jack” Lewis died March 27, 2014, in Stockton, CA. He was born February 10, 1941, in French Camp, CA. He is preceded in death by his father, Anthony Lewis, Sr.; his mother, Giuma Lewis-Machado; his brother, Anthony Lewis, Jr.; and his sister, Helen Camara (Tony). He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jane M. Lewis, of Manteca; his son, Jack Lewis, II (Paula), of Ripon; his daughter, Jennifer Nunes (Art), of Manteca; his son, James Lewis (Nancy), of Ripon; his grandchildren, Joaquin Lewis and Emily Lewis; Austen Nunes, Jordan Nunes, and Jace Nunes; Madisen Lewis and Nicholas Lewis; his sister-in-law, Hattie Lewis of Kingsburg; his uncle and godfather, Jack Luis (Beatrice), of Manteca, and his godmother, Blarmina Luiz (Joe) of Sunnyvale.
   Jack grew up in Manteca, attended Veritas Grammar School, and graduated from Manteca High School in 1958. After his marriage to Jane in 1960, he operated his family’s dairy in Manteca. He then farmed properties owned by his family and his in-laws while working night shifts for three successive years at Fibreboard, Mohawk Tire Company, and American Can Company. In 1964, he became a tile-setter’s helper with Gross Tile in Stockton. He joined the union and became a journeyman tile setter while commuting to Bay Cities Tile in Fremont. He later worked at Quality Tile in Stockton. In 1975, he passed the state exam to become a licensed ceramic tile contractor and established Lewis Tile Company, Inc., in Manteca, which he owned and operated for over 30 years with his wife, Jane, until they retired in 2007. In August, 2009, he underwent a successful double-lung transplant operation at UCSF Medical Center, which prolonged his life for another 4 and a half years.
   Jack was charming, polite, generous, and strong. He had a sharp wit and a great sense of humor. He worked hard but also knew how to enjoy life. He liked to read, garden, travel, and host parties. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, boss, and friend. He especially loved his three children and seven grandchildren. He will be sorely missed by all.
   Jack was past president of the Manteca Chapter of Young Farmers of America; past president of Nile Garden Elementary School Community Club; horse leader for Nile Garden 4-H Club; past member of Manteca High School Sports Boosters, and Central Catholic High School Football Booster Club. He was a member of the Luso-American Fraternal Federation, the San Joaquin County Farm Bureau, Forest Landowners of California, the Manteca Historical Society, and a contributor to M.R.P.S., F.E.S.M., I.C.F., the Manteca Boys and Girls Club, and Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church.
   P.L. Fry & Son is honored to be serving the Lewis family. Visitation will be on Thursday April 3, 2014 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at P.L. Fry & Son, 290 N. Union Rd., Manteca. A Rosary/Mass will be held on Friday, April 4, 2014, at 11:30 a.m., at Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church, 505 E. North Street, Manteca; burial to follow at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Escalon; reception to follow from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Stockton Golf & Country Club. Donations may be made to UCSF Heart and Lung Transplant Center, Manteca High School Agricultural Department, Central Catholic High School, or Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church. An online guest book is available at www.plfryandson.com (search obituaries).

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Friday, April 4, 2014