Conrad J. Lewison

Conrad Joseph Lewison was born on August 7, 1939 at home on the farm in rural Viola to Orvie and Mamie (Ames) Lewison. He attended Elk Run School and Viola High School as a member of the Class of 1957. In school he showed pigs in FFA and lettered in basketball, baseball and was on the first football team for VHS. After graduation, he attended UW Platteville for a few years focusing on agriculture.

As part of the Cold War generation, he enlisted in the Army for basic training and on call status. He went to work at John Deere but preferred working with animals so he bred cows and later worked in the barns at Tri-State. He also worked showing cows for breeders in SW Wisconsin and at sales for Alvin Piper and Marlowe Nelson. Through these connections, he got the opportunity to move to Calistoga, California and work at Pineyhill Dairy developing several excellent cows, managing the show herd and dabbling in cattle photography with a Brownie camera. He made many great friends there, the most important being his wife Margaret, who he met when they were both showing cows in Oregon.

Connie and Margaret were married on January 7, 1967, in Vancouver, Washington. They both wanted to have their own herd of cattle so in the fall he packed up his wife and daughter and moved back to Wisconsin. In 1968 they rented a farm on the edge of Viroqua and stayed for their entire farming career. He said his partnership with Kenneth Hanson and later his son Roger was a good deal and he was able to focus on developing high quality Registered Holsteins. They were very proud of their show winning cattle, but even more excited when someone bought a good one and had their own success.

When he wasn’t raising cows or tobacco, he enjoyed hunting, especially coon hunting. There were many adventures in the woods of Vernon and Crawford County. Some were successful hunts, and some downright shenanigans with the Anderson and Benzing boys and a host of others. In retirement he was able to go fishing with his good friend Dean and make up for years of not having the time to relax.

He also loved watching harness racing. As the superintendent of speed for the Vernon County fair, he made so many good friends in the industry. When they retired from milking, he and Margaret traveled all over to watch races and talk horses.

Connie is survived by his daughter Leslie (Jeff), son Brian (Tina), sister-in-law Sue Lewison, nieces and nephews, step-grandchildren, cousins and so many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Margaret, his sister Dorothy, her husband Jim and their daughter Kris, brother David and his wife Miriam, brother Vern and sister-in-law Donna and her husband Don.

The family would like to thank the staff at Vernon Acres and Creamery Creek for their excellent care of our dad.

A visitation will take place on Thursday, July 16, from 4:00-8:00pm at Vosseteig- Larson Funeral Home in Viroqua. A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 17 at 11:00am at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, burial will immediately follow at Viroqua Cemetery.

Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home & Crematory is serving Conrad's family.

123 W. Decker St.

Viroqua, WI 54665

608-637-2100