Lewis Franklin Uchtman

Lewis Franklin Uchtman January 4, 1956 – March 3, 2026 Lewis Franklin Uchtman was born January 4, 1956, in Marshfield, Missouri, to Evelyn (Snare) and Charles Uchtman. From a young age, Lewis learned resilience in the service of family. When hardship came, he stepped forward, helping carry the family farm and beginning the haying work that would define his life, a testament to his lifelong devotion to those he loved.

On May 19, 1979, he married Gayle Stacey, and they raised their four children together in Marshfield. In addition to farming, Lewis owned and operated a trucking company alongside Gayle for three decades, working long hours without complaint to provide for the family he cherished. He immensely enjoyed traveling the road weekly to Florida to pick up flowers.

He was the proud father of Maegen Uchtman, Michelle Coulter (Jesse), Stacey Uchtman, and Lindsey Callery (Sean). His children were his life’s greatest work, and he loved and cherished them completely.

But the true delight of his later years were his grandchildren. He was “Papa” to Asher (14), Silas (12), Bohan (11), and Quill (9); Porter (10) and Lena (7); and Adeya (14), Haddon (11), Elliot (9), Calvin (7), and Shepherd Lewis (1). They were the light in his eyes and the reward of a life well lived.

Lewis could mend just about anything with an engine, especially if it was John Deere green. He loved tractor pulls and the honest competition of iron against iron. His 1970 Boss 429 Mustang held a special place in his heart and was emblematic of him. Each year he traveled west to Colorado for elk hunting with his brothers and brothers-in-law, a tradition of mountains, campfires, and shared stories that he treasured deeply.

He was larger than life—he was kind, intelligent, and loyal to a fault. If he gave his word, you could stand on it. He loved Jesus with a quiet certainty that carried him through every season.

In February 2021, Lewis was diagnosed with inoperable Stage 4 colorectal cancer. He met it the way he met hard winters and broken machinery: head-on and without surrender. For five years he fought the good fight. On March 3, 2026, after suffering a heart attack, he passed peacefully in the comfort of his daughter’s home, surrounded by love.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter Maegen; half-sisters Lola Davidson and Dorothy Davidson; half-brother Allan Dahlstrom; sisters Carol Lovland and Shirley Gott; and brothers John and Carl.

He is survived by his wife, Gayle; his children Michelle, Stacey, and Lindsey; his sons-in-law Jesse and Sean; his sister Yvonne Nixon (Dale); and his brothers William (Brenda) and Charlie (Connie); along with his beloved grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews, and his five, dearly-loved brothers-in-law, the Stacey brothers.

The loss of Lewis leaves a space that cannot be filled. Yet the fields he worked, the roads he traveled, and the family he raised stand as lasting testimony to a faithful man who lived strong, loved deeply, and finished his race well.

Visitation will be held from Noon until 2:00pm on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at Elkand Independent Methodist Church in Elkland, Mo. with Funeral Services beginning at 2:00pm. Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery just a short distance from the church.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions be made to the Elkland Independent Methodist Church (PO Box 133, Elkland, Missouri 65644), or the Pleasant View Cemetery, Elkland, Missouri or, Funeral Fund: Lewis Uchtman, PO Box 120, Elkland, Missouri 65644.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home in Springfield, Missouri.

Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com