Bridget Lewis
February 15, 2021
- Share:
-
-
-
Service Details
Bridget Lewis, 61, passed away February 15, 2021.
Bridget was born September 7, 1959 in Sioux City, Iowa to William and Hazel O’Keefe. She earned her Associates Degree from Des Moines Area Community College. Bridget worked for the DCI as a criminalist for many years. She enjoyed camping with friends, fishing and skiing. She was an avid Notre Dame fan.
She enjoyed raising and showing her German short haired pointer dogs.
Bridget is survived by her loving husband, John Lewis; an uncle, and several cousins.
Bridget will be laid to rest at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Hospice of Iowa in loving memory of Bridget.
Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
L Gleisberg
02/07/2022
I was so proud to meet Bridget in 2016. She was IAI President at the time, and came down to the OK IAI 50th anniversary conference. We had alot of great conversations, and she was so funny. She was so enthusiastic about everything she was doing with IAI. Just so heartbreaking. My condolences to your family.
Sheila Rogeness
04/16/2021
I sadly learned today of your passing on from this world, Bridget. Reading all the sentiments of people that knew and respected you is heartwarming, you will indeed be missed by so many, including me. Thank you for being welcoming to me when I was a baby in the world of forensics and fingerprints, thank you for your hard work and dedication to the discipline of latent print examination, and thank you for being an example for me personally, as a woman in a field that was once primarily men! Rest easy, my friend.
Tom Miller
02/28/2021
Working with the forensic scientists in the fingerprint section of DCI was a pleasure of mine for decades. Their dedication to their work, and their great esprit de corps, made every trip to the lab a joy. No one exemplified their spirit, or brought more enthusiasm to our shared mission, than Bridget. She is missed.
Jim Snaidauf
02/26/2021
Bridget,
We will miss you! You did so much for the local divisions and the parent body of the IAI, thank you! We will also never forget the mid-states conference you coordinated. I can still hear your laugh!
Jim
Jeff (Moe) Phillips
02/23/2021
John, My deepest sympathy to you and your family! I met Bridget in 1979 and became an instant friend with her and that continued for her whole life! She will always live in my mind as a dear friend and workmate, I loved her so!
Brenda Ingle
02/23/2021
Bridgett was a great lady, many memories of working with her at DMPD. My deepest sympathies to John and the rest of the family.
Alan McRoberts
02/22/2021
Although it seems as though I have know Bridget for most of my life, I got to know and count her as a friend when she was invited to join SWGFAST in 2002. She brought to the group her mid-western strengths of a strong work ethic, sense of fairness, boldness, and courage.Those strengths, coupled with her knowledge and devotion to the science and practice of fingerprints, made her a great addition to SWGFAST. Her love for fingerprints, forensic science, and IAI was inspiring to many.
****
Some of us who were fortunate enough to watch Bridget watch the dog shows and listen to her critiques. Those evenings will be among our most cherished memories. Bridget, you will be missed, but not forgotten.
Kevin Burke
02/22/2021
We will all miss you Bridget. Thanks for spending so much time with the new SWGFAST Tenprint kids. You listened and wisely advised. You gave us direction and friendship.
Thank you.
Kevin Burke
Chuck Richardson
02/22/2021
As with anyone who ever knew Bridget, I was deeply saddened to hear of her passing. Her loss will be profoundly felt not only by her family but by her many friends. I was fortunate enough to be one of the numerous people who had the privilege to work with her both through the IAI and SWGFAST. Bridget made it so much easier to accomplish difficult and stressful projects by not only adding humor, but more importantly her grasp of the subjects. Her contributions to our science will be felt as long as we have our discipline. My deepest sympathy to her family and her many friends. One of those friends, Chuck
Joe Means
02/22/2021
I served with Bridget on the IAI Board of Directors and with the SWGFAST group. I always looked up to Bridget because of her historical as well as her technical knowledge in the field of forensics. I feel honored to have served with Bridget and always admired her leadership and ability to get things done. Prayers for her family and friends.
Lenny Butt
02/21/2021
As we turn the pages of our book of life there are certain entries that bring an elevated level of pleasure for having been a part of. The paragraphs that include any interaction with Bridget certainly fall into this category. Her professional passion and personal character were remarkable, and I am most thankful for having had the opportunity to have witnessed both. To hear of her passing has been gut wrenching, and is an entry I prefer to leave out of my book.
Bridget, my colleague, my mentor, and most importantly my friend may you rest in eternal peace.
Ken & Sandy Smith
02/21/2021
Bridget and Ken worked together for a number of years on both SWGFAST and the IAI where they worked to advance forensic identification with in the law enforcement community. Bridget and John both had the love we have for German Shorthair Pointers. Bridget assisted us in finding a GSP to add to our family after we had lost ours and kept her over a month until we could get from Virginia to Iowa to get our pup. Bridget was a great professional friend as well as a great personal friend. We will be keeping John, family and friends in our prayers.
Lisa Hollett
02/21/2021
Bridget and I had been friends since kindergarten. She was always so much a part of my life; both the good time and bad. May you Rest In Peace and find comfort in His loving arms
Christophe Champod (Switzerland)
02/21/2021
I have fond memories of Bridget and she will be missed. When I joined SWGFAST (a group dealing with fingerprints), she immediately welcomed me and offered me her kindness and friendship. Our conversation was this improbable mix between a Swiss English and an Iowa accents. Enough to entertain a few evenings! We did not share the same opinions on a lot of technical things, but it was always full honesty and care that we looked at each other. Bridget had a big heart and knew how to help and care for others. Before meeting her, the only Bridget I knew was from famous movies in the UK. Now, I can say that I knew the real Bridget, the one everybody should meet in their life. I realize today that I should have written this before tonight, to her. I hope that she can still sense all my friendly sadness. All my sympathy to her friends and family.
Ed German
02/21/2021
Bridget's passing leaves a great emptiness in the lives of family and friends, and is a loss for law enforcement and forensic identification experts who benefited from her generous giving of time and energy to help society. Bridget was an expert, a leader, and a helpful friend to all of us lucky enough to enjoy her presence at forensic meetings and international conferences over multiple decades. I am certain the strength and memory of Bridget's loving kindness will help family and friends get through this difficult time.