Eric Nelson Lewis, age 51, of Gallatin, Tennessee, formerly of the Green Bay Wisconsin area, passed away on Sunday, February 6, 2022, after a lengthy struggle with several lung diseases, at Sumner Regional Medical Center in Gallatin.
Eric was born on February 20, 1970, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to his mother, Mary Ellen Richardson, and was the youngest of seven, which were Allen, Billy, Conrad, Robert, Scott, and Michelle (Missy) all of which preceded him in death.
From the age of four, he was in various foster homes and at the age of ten was adopted by Gerald Otto Lewis and the late Ruth Erma Pape Lewis.
After high school, he moved to California and created the rock band Poison Angel where he was the drummer and opened for the bands Motley Crew, Dokken, Helix, and Kiss eventually touring around the world as the substitute drummer for Helix!
He was a Harley man all the way and worked his way up to being an enforcer for the Hell’s Angels. For a short time, he was an MMA fighter, never losing a fight! Later on, he enjoyed creating meals as a chef after completing culinary training in Italy. He was also employed in the road and housing construction business after which he utilized these skills to build various structures on the horse ranch and riding stables he had acquired here in Tennessee. This ranch also afforded him the opportunity to pursue his passion for horses.
In addition to his adoptive father, Gerald, his Aunt Carolyn, and Uncle Ron, he is also survived by his wife of almost five years, Heidi Marie Lewis, his children from previous marriages Andrea, Paul, Vanessa, Zachary, and Justin, a niece and nephew, Andrea and Jeremy Huff, as well as cousins Mike, Suzanne and Tim along with their families.
Besides his biological mother and his six siblings mentioned above, Eric is preceded in death by his adoptive mother, Ruth, his biological maternal Grandmother Miller and his adopted paternal Grandmother Gertrude Lewis who both loved him dearly and whom he also loved in return.
In the early 2000’s Eric’s life was radically changed when he met Pastor Paul Baggett, of Living To Go Church, who was heading up his church’s food ministry in Nashville, Tennessee! Jesus’ great love and grace for a lost and broken man was beautifully demonstrated by Pastor Paul’s fatherly care of Eric’s body, soul, and spirit, treating him even as he would his own son.
This display of love brought about Eric’s conversion to Jesus Christ, his baptism, and the witnessing of his faith which brought many to church! Although he continued to struggle with the issues of his past, he desired to learn more about the Lord and joined the Transformational Discipleship program at St. Mark Lutheran in Green Bay, WI, where he met his loving wife, Heidi! Sadly, these latest years of their marriage had been dominated by various, chronic diseases which resulted in his death!
A Celebration of Eternal Life with his Savior Jesus Christ will be held on Saturday, February 12, at 11:00 a.m. at Three Oaks Church, 502 Douglas Bend Road, Gallatin.
Arrangements Entrusted To: Sumner Funeral & Cremation, Gallatin (615)452-9059 www.sumnerfuneral.com
