Lewis Levick

Lewis “Buzz” Levick passed away peacefully at the Waverly Health Center in Waverly, April 26, 2021.

Lewis James Levick was born Feb. 4, 1927, on the family farm outside Clemons, to Howard and Myrtle (Davisson) Levick. He graduated from Clemons High School in 1944. He started his first year at Drake University, but World War II interrupted. Buzz joined the army and served from 1945 to 1946. He was stationed at Fort Myers in Washington D.C. He was part of the Honor Guard that guarded the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers while stationed at Fr. Myers. It was there he met Miriam Hershberger. They were married July 21, 1948, in Lebanon, Pa. They returned to Iowa where Buzz completed his BA and MA degrees at Drake.

Buzz taught and coached basketball in many Iowa high schools — Rinard, LeGrand, Tama and Newton. While at Newton, his basketball teams won back-to-back state championships in 1963 and 1964. In 1965, he started coaching at Wartburg College until his retirement in 1993. While at Wartburg, his teams won 14 conference championships. Buzz received many awards for his achievements — Iowa Boys’ Basketball Hall of Fame, Tama and Newton Halls of Fame, Wartburg College Hall of Fame and the National Basketball Hall of Fame. After his retirement, Wartburg honored him by naming their basketball court The Levick Arena.

Buzz is survived by his wife, Miriam of Waverly; and two daughters, Elaine (Harold) Fratzke of Clear Lake and LuAnn (Jack) Grubman of Bryn Mawr, Pa. He has 5 five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents ; a sister, Donna Jean Mumberg; and a son, Robert.

A celebration of life will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 8 at The Levick Arena on the campus of Wartburg College with Pastor Arthur Bergren from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School officiating. COVID-19 protocol will be followed and everyone attending must wear a mask. The funeral service will be live-streamed at https://livestream.com/accounts/1735128/events/9646410. Burial will be at the Harlington Cemetery in Waverly, with military rites conducted by the Waverly Area Veteran Honor Groups. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly. Memorials may be made in Buzz’s name to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Waverly and Wartburg College. Online condolences for Buzz can be left at kaisercorson.com.

Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home of Waverly (319-352-1187) is assisting the Levick family with arrangements.