David “Dave” Lewerenz
November 1, 1952 - May 31, 2022
David “Dave” Charles Lewerenz died on May 31, 2022, after a short illness. He was 69.
Dave was born in Herington, Kansas, on November 1, 1952, the youngest of four children of Victor Lewerenz Sr. and Elsie (Riffel) Lewerenz. He grew up in Manhattan, Kan., and Herington, Kan., and met his future wife Patrice Murphy at Herington High School, where he graduated in 1971. Dave completed his optometry prerequisites at Kansas State University, then earned his Bachelor of Science in Physiological Optics and his Doctor of Optometry from the University of Alabama in Birmingham School of Optometry. He later returned to UAB to complete a post-graduate residency in Low Vision Rehabilitation & Geriatrics at the Veterans Administration Medical Center.
Dave, Patrice, and their three children then returned to Kansas, making their home in Salina, where they hosted numerous exchange students and other long-term guests and made themselves beloved members of their community. Dave coached youth sports, kept track of Girl Scouts cookie sales, and in 1994 helped to re-establish the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Salina. He helped found the Community Learning and Skills Sharing "CLASS" program in Salina, and after moving to northeastern Oklahoma, Dave was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Tahlequah.
Dave was an optometrist in private practice for more than 30 years in Salina and Minneapolis, Kan., treating thousands of patients and developing a specialty in low-vision care. In 2007, he joined the faculty at the Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry; and in 2016, he joined the faculty of the University of Colorado School of Medicine Anschutz Medical Center. A strong believer in both service to the profession and in continuing education, Dave was active in the American Academy of Optometry (as a Fellow, a Low Vision Diplomate, on the Low Vision Diplomate Board of Directors, and as a member and chair of the Low Vision Section), the American Optometric Association (as a member and Chair of the Vision Rehabilitation Section), the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Kansas Optometric Association (for whom he chaired three committees and served on the Board of Directors), the Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (for whom he served on the Board of Directors), NewView Oklahoma (formerly the Oklahoma League for the Blind) (as a member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Rehabilitation Committee), and other professional and educational organizations. Some of Dave’s most meaningful work was providing low-vision health care to patients as well as training to other optometry specialists in Guatemala, Honduras, India and (virtually) in Africa.
A life-long lover of music, Dave played guitar in The Grundies and The Psychic Souls in his youth, sang "Rocky Racoon" and "The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down" to his children at bedtime, and nurtured a love of music in his children. He played in the band Desperado Apostates and learned to play the bass for a student-faculty band at NSU OCO. He wrote songs for his grandchildren, most notably ‘Funny Things Happen Every Day’.
Dave found endless joy in his family. He is survived by his wife, Patrice Lewerenz; daughter Heather Lewerenz (Rick Uhlig) and grandchildren Logan Uhlig and Jett Uhlig; son Dan Lewerenz; daughter Andrea Lewerenz Norris (Calvin Norris) and grandchildren Josie Norris and Truman Norris; sister-in-law Barbara Martin and her children and grandchildren; brother Steven Lewerenz and his children and grandchildren; sister Jan Chang and her children, grandchildren, and foster grandchildren; and a great many cousins and others in his extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Victor Lewerenz Jr.
Donations
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the David & Patrice Lewerenz Low Vision Award at NSU OCO, Project Angel Heart, or the Salina Public Library.
Donations to the Low Vision Award may be made at www.nsugiving.com/donate by entering the amount of the gift in the "Amount" box, entering the amount of the gift again in the "Other" box (below "Your Area of Support"), and entering "Lewerenz Award" in the "Comments" box.
Project Angel Heart delivers nutritious meals to persons living with severe illness and / or terminal diagnosis.
Donations to the Salina Public Library can be given through the Greater Salina Community Foundation at Salina Public Library Fund and indicate ‘Lewerenz Gift’ in the Gift notes.
Memorial Service
A memorial service will be held at a later date and information can be found on the David Lewerenz page on caringbridge.com.