Lewis Paul Jennings was born in Anchorage, Alaska, traveled the Alcan Highway to Seattle at four months old, and moved to Vashon when he was two.

Being homeschooled, Lew had the opportunity to pursue his many unique and varied interests. As a young child he was curious, inventive, artistic, adventurous and delightfully eccentric. For several of his early years, Lewi’s daily attire consisted of military uniforms or a suit and tie like his Papa, grandfather Clark. He was gregarious and participated in Cub Scouts and the Vashon Youth theater project, once starring as the Wizard of Oz.

Lew was an avid learner and self-made person. He taught himself to read at five years of age by studying the back of cereal boxes. Later, his favorite reading material was Jane’s Military Encyclopedia. He could identify any plane in the air. He enthusiastically educated himself in any subject that took his interest.

As he matured, his skills multiplied as new ventures presented themselves. His first job was at the Vashon Theatre. He collected 16mm films and loved to have “movie nights” where he showed them on his reel-to-reel projector. Like his father, Lew became a musician. He played guitar, bass, and drums, joining several Island bands. He loved staging fantastic firework displays in his back yard, and assisted his uncle Craig on several professional shows.

He was a tinker and lifelong student. He excelled at so many things: guitar, repairing cars, house painting and carpentry. He loved cooking and being out on one of his boats. He was an all-around fixit guy. Lew loved Vashon and lived nearly 50 years on his family property.

Those he left behind are his mother, Candy, his father Mike, step-mother Jeri, his beloved sister Greta, his aunts, uncles, and cousins Sydney and Eva, as well as countless friends, including his girlfriend Karri Harrup. He will never be forgotten by all who knew and loved him.

May 18, 1973 – January 10, 2025