Radio Geek Heaven has just learned that Red Lewis has died unexpectedly at the age of 46. Red worked for KTOE-AM 1420 in Mankato, Minnesota. Along with Don Rivet, Barry Wortel, and Pete Steiner, he hosted ‘The Morning Blend’ from 6:30-10:00AM each weekday. Red Lewis also served as Production Director for the Minnesota Valley Broadcasting/Radio Mankato cluster.
I will update this article with information on the funeral service, visitation, memorials, etc., as it becomes available.
I never met Red Lewis, but exchanged many e-mails and Facebook messages with him. I also listened to him frequently via the web stream on ktoe.com. He was a professional broadcaster in every sense of the word. His quick wit and humor will be missed by all who knew him. He was a good man who loved what he did and enjoyed life to the fullest.
R.I.P, Red Lewis.
UPDATE: Here is the obituary and funeral announcement, published in today’s Mankato Free Press. Also available on the ktoe.com homepage:
Rubin Lewis Shonbom, age 46, of Mankato died unexpectedly on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at Mayo Clinic Health System, Mankato.
A Celebration of Rubin’s Life will be held at 6 p.m., Friday, October 14, 2011 at North Mankato Mortuary – NORTHVIEW. Visitation will be held from 3-6 p.m., Friday at NORTHVIEW. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Blue Earth-Nicollet County Humane Society or donor’s choice.
Rubin was born February 21, 1965 to Irving E. and Sigrid G. (Traenkle) Shonbom in Lynnwood, California. The family moved to Minnesota when Rubin was ten. He graduated from Wellcome Memorial High School, Garden City in 1983. Rubin attended Mankato State University and was active in the Theatre Department. He was united in marriage to Becky L. Bergemann on June 16, 2007 in Eagle Lake. Rubin started his radio career while at MSU with KMSU-FM and his first program “Winelight”. He then went on to work at KRBI in St. Peter and then to Radio Mankato for the past 23 years. He enjoyed playing poker, watching movies, and was a collector of The Simpsons and Family Guy memorabilia.
Rubin is survived by his wife, Becky of Mankato; parents, Irving and Teddy Shonbom of Amboy; sister, Suzanne Shonbom of Blaine; brother, Daniel (Michelle Green) Shonbom of Mankato; father and mother-in-law, Waldo and Nadene Bergemann; brother-in-law, Brian Bergemann all of Madison Lake; two uncles, Kurt (Donna) Traenkle of Nisswa and Seymour Glass of Vernon Center; his Radio Mankato Family, “The Morning Blend”; and his beloved daschunds, Snickers and Peanut.
Rubin was preceded in death by his grandparents; one aunt; and one uncle.