Washington alumna dies in Sunday morning storm

A former Washington High School student died over the weekend when a tree fell on a tent she was camping in. Jennifer Lewis, 31, was camping at Lake Macbride State Park near Solon Sunday morning with her sister and some friends. According to the Associated Press, a thunderstorm came through the area and knocked over a tree on an adjoining property, which fell on Lewis? tent. She was transported by ambulance to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where she was pronounced dead. She was the only person inside the tent at the time.

Lewis graduated from Washington High School in 1997 and was living in Iowa City at the time of her death. She was the daughter of Jim and Cathy Lewis of Coralville and formerly of Washington.

Lewis was a member of the Homecoming Court in high school. She was one of two persons to win the Les Leeper Sportsmanship Award that year. She was named ?Outstanding Athlete? in track at Awards Night her senior year. In the 1997 yearbook, girls? track coach Max Cousins spoke highly of Lewis.

The yearbook article reads, ?Head coach Max Cousins said Lewis was a good leader for the underclassmen to follow. ?She is a good example, doesn?t complain, does her job, and does the best she can,? he said.?

Lewis was also active in softball, volleyball, Student Congress, the Art Service Club and National Honor Society.

Jolleen Cerka has taught physical education at the high school for 28 years and had Lewis as a student. Cerka was also Lewis? volleyball coach and sprint coach on the track team.

?She was an all-around player,? said Cerka. ?She worked hard and did what was asked of her. She was an energetic individual. Jennifer was the type of person you?d like to have on your team. She was the leader in raising her teammates? morale.?

Cerka remembers Lewis as a ?bubbly, outgoing and fun person.?

?She was a fine young lady,? said Cerka. ?She will definitely be missed.?

At the time of her death, Lewis was a chemistry teacher at Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School, where she had taught since 2009.

Dianne Gray has taught biology at the Washington High School for 38 years and also had Lewis as a pupil.

?Jennifer was an excellent student,? said Gray. ?She was very good in science, so I wasn?t surprised to see her enter the field.?

Jennifer?s mother Cathy was also a teacher. Cathy taught third grade at Stewart Elementary School from 1976 until her retirement in 2006.