Former Mineral Point Democrat Tribune editor and Dodgeville Chronicle freelance contributor Donnajean “Jeanie” Lewis died on Jan. 13, 2026 at age 85.
An obituary and accompanying story appeared in the Jan. 22, 2026 issue of The Dodgeville Chronicle. According to the obituary and story:
Jeanie was born on October 27, 1940, in Spring Green, Wisconsin, to Leslie and Irene (Ziebarth) Cowley. She joined her older brother Duane, and the family later grew to include two more brothers, Doug and Denny. They resided in the Arena and Ridgeway areas, where Jeanie developed lifelong friendships. The family eventually settled outside of Arena, where Jeanie graduated in 1958.
She met her husband, Glenn Lewis, and they were married on October 4, 1958, in the Arena Congregational Church. They settled on Glenn’s family farm in the community of Wakefield, in the Town of Ridgeway. For many years, Jeanie was a farmer’s wife and a full-time mother first to Marie, then Rodney, Ronald, and Lori, all within five years.
An avid writer, Jeanie submitted a story about her neighbors Bob and Margaret Disrud, cheesemakers at the Wakefield Cheese Factory, to the Dodgeville Chronicle. This marked the beginning of her freelance writing career.
“Jeanie became a regular contributor to our publication and I offered her a job as a feature writer,” wrote Dodgeville Chronicle and Democrat Tribune co-publisher Pat Reilly, who also recalled she trained as a professional photographer with Jerry First in Dodgeville.
Reilly’s comments were part of the story paying tribute to Lewis.
Lewis began working full-time at the Chronicle/Democrat Tribune, where she spent more than 30 years. She became editor of the Mineral Point Democrat Tribune in the early ’90s, joined the Mineral Point Kiwanis Club and became part of the Mineral Point community.
She served in numerous organizations and committees, including the Wisconsin Newspaper Association; the Wisconsin Historical Society; local, state, and county veteran organizations; the Iowa County Fair Committee; Hyde Historical Territory; The Simpson Church, and many others.
“Jeanie was never one seeking awards or recognition,” Reilly said in the story, “but luckily, people and organizations knew her value. Whatever recognition she received was richly deserved.”
She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Glenn; their children; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brothers, nieces, nephews and friends.
“I will miss her and love her forever,” Reilly said in the story, recalling that Lewis wrote a monthly column in The Chronicle called Jeanie’s World. “I am so lucky to have been part of Jeanie’s World.”
A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026 at the Gorgen-McGinley & Ayers Funeral Home in Dodgeville. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until time of service on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026 at the funeral home. A luncheon will follow at 12:15 pm at United Methodist Church in Dodgeville.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Hodan Center Million Dollar Club are appreciated.
