Don Lewinski (Specks169) Collection pics updated

[zoinkss]

I am grieved to let everyone here know that Rusty Bunch Hall of Fame Don Lewinski (Specks169) has passed away.
Don believed in Family first, hunting and fishing 2nd and beer can collecting 3rd. He was surrounded today by his family in a house filled with family pictures and memories of an amazing life.

Don (Specks169), Mark Balestrarie (dartmaster) and I started a last wed get together that has grown to about 100 guys locally. We didnt do this on purpose. Don would go up to his land in upper Wisconsin with his family hunting on Thursday mornings. On the last Wednesdays we would bring our rub out cans and cans we picked up and do a little show and tell. As we met people on Craigslist, rummage sales and ebay and such, the group grew into what it is today. Most are members of the local BCCA or Naba or go to the local sign or can shows.
Mark passed away shortly after my father from Throat cancer and Don passed today from Colon cancer.

Within the pages of Rusty Bunch are documented their contributions to Rusty Bunch and the beer can hobby. Because that is what The Rusty Bunch is; a documentation of contributions, thoughts, questions and answers that will live on for the next generation of collectors. There is no other BCCA chapter that has documented or shared as much as The Rusty Bunch. Don's first words of beer can guidance to me when I started up again was to join The Rusty Bunch. Because of the knowledge base and general goodness of this group, he said I would both learn and share what Ive learned. He was right.

IF you knew Don and would like to share a few hours and are in the area, his family will be hosting our Wed night group on a Sunday to show off his collection before its boxed up. Before Don passed he made arrangements for the sale of his collection to one individual with the stipulation that it stay up until he could host one more time. Please contact me if you will be in the area on the weekend of Sunday August 1st.

Andrew B.

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[Beercanpete]

I know I will be the first of many to say how sad this is, and what a good one he was. I never met him in person but corresponded many times over the years. He will be sorely missed ... my very best to his family and friends.

[rusteditor]

Very sad news and a huge loss for the hobby. First met Don at Summerswap in 1990 and still have cones on the shelf I got from him. Had a great time with Don at the Milwaukee Canvention discussing cone variations. Great guy to hang out with. He will be missed.


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[Mizmo64]

Don was one of nicest guys in the hobby. I met him shortly after his 1st bought with cancer at a show at eagle point park in Dubuque, IA. I always enjoyed talking cans with Don. He will be missed greatly.

[blake]

Very sad. He be missed by everyone.

[waste-man]

That is sad news. Don was one of the reasons I went to the Dubuque show year after year. He had some great stuff. I always got some good rust at good prices and he was great to talk to. We are taking way too many losses lately. So sad.....

[bodean]

While I didn't know Mr Lewinski, I think any old guy that flashes the peace sign has got to be a character I'd like to have met. I hate to see these old collectors pass on that have likely forgotten more about cans than I'll ever know. RIP Mr. Lewinski.

[Barry Travis]

My collecting life was definitely richer for knowing Don. I'll always appreciate my red ribbon Hamm's Prefferred Stock a little more,knowing how he plucked it from a dollar box. I'm glad you gave me the heads up,Andrew,as it was good to say my goodbyes to him. What a great guy who was always happy to share his knowledge with others.

[Jim Romine]

Don was a great guy that I respected a lot for his knowledge and tremendous demeanor. RIP.
Jim

[Artsbeercans]

Sorry to hear of Don's passing. I have fond memories of my discussions with him at Blue Gray. He was very knowledgeable on many subjects and was willing to share what he knew. I will miss him as I am sure much of our membership will. RIP Don!!!

[kb]

Don was a good guy to me in the return to the hobby,
Made some trades and of course he fixed some cans - nicely at that as well !! Never met him , had chats about our other hobbies and sorry to hear .. condolences to the Lewinskis


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[Lovegun]

Don was a very likeable guy with a great sense of humor. He loved rusty cans and was very knowledgeable! I have put some nice cans on the shelf from him over the years. R.I.P. my friend!

[zoinkss]

I found a few pics of Don and his collection.
The group shot is one of our Wed night get togethers.
IF anyone has any other pictures from Spring Thaw or other shows, we would appreciate them for his services.
Andrew b.

[roy]

Don Was definitely one of the nicer people in the hobby. Don did can repair work for me for years. And for 40 years or so Don would send me a check to get him a Christmas present. After all these years Don should have a decent California section. But the truly odd thing is Don and I never met, we talked about it but somehow the timing was never right. roy

[zoinkss]

I was there multiple times when Don would receive a box from Roy with repair cans. It was always pretty rare dump finds.
Every time it was like a kid getting a Christmas present. He never knew what to expect but he knew it was going to be good.
Sunday we will get to view the whole collection and I will take some good pictures and show here. It is really an amazing life long collection!

[zoinkss]

We had our celebration of Don's Life and hobby yesterday. We were able to view the whole collection.
Pics below. Don told me he counted at least 7500 cans in his records but that isn't exactly what's on the walls. it was close though.
Some cans missing as he gave some away before he passed.

[zoinkss]

Next set;

[zoinkss]

Next set;

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[jacoby4664]

That is an amazing collection. You don't do that overnight. I can only imagine the wealth of knowledge this gentleman had. Wish I had known him. Rest in Peace Sir.

[Ceskydup]

Great California collection!!!

Big "R"

[Ziphippie]

That was a beautiful day, a lot of people showed up to remember Don!
What a great collection-
You will be missed my friend.


Don didn’t like tab tops, at all. He didn’t even own the tab book. I still see a tab in basement rust though! In the first pic of the ‘next’ set there is a tab.
I called him on it years ago and he said, “it has a steel lid!”. Here it is- Ziphippie

[zoinkss]

Yes, Don considered Juice lids flat tops because they were steel. If they came both flat and juice, He would put both on the shelf sometimes.
He also collected cones by top lids and seams. I think he had multiple exact same cones with 3 different seams.
Him and conehead shared a database a while ago that showed all different kinds of variances.
I miss Don as much as my own father. RIP Don and Stan!

[WISCONSINCANMAN]

Thank you for sharing these pictures, just a great collection, sorry to say I didn't know this amazing man.

[carsbr549]

Don was an amazing guy.. He was the original repair guy for our group. He was one of the reasons I started playing around with can repairs. He helped me and pushed me to take it to the next level as the new repair guy for the group. His legacy will always live on and i will cherish the years that we were able to build a great friendship. RIP Don.. Steve

[blake]

Appears to be a Grain Belt Ale assuming there in book order. I also saw three Karlsbrau cones. I wonder if it was a canning code variation. The no reference are flats rolled in to cones .

[bodean]

Awesome collection!

[WISjammer]

I met Don in 1998 when he came up to me at a Titletown show in Green Bay and got me focused on dumper cans. We came to know each other and talked about hunting, cans, investing and an array of other topics. He had encouraged me to join the Rusty Bunch but I didn't get around to it. He had later encouraged me to join those last Wednesday of the month can collector meetings and I finally did in 2019. I knew his wife of 42 years, Cindy, and I had visited them at their 70-acre spread in Marquette County where he practiced his hunting craft. Perhaps Don's most lasting impact on me was his love of California cans and many of the CA cans in my collection came from a collector in San Diego with whom he had traded since the 1970's but never met. Upon attending Don's funeral I showed his widow Cindy a check I had just mailed where I had written on the memo line "joining in memory of Donald A. Lewinski". I have resolved that one of the principal ways I shall remember this man is to focus on California cans as never before. Many of my CA cans (about 190 flats) were Don's extra traders which I bought and either cleaned a bit more or put directly on the shelf. Since my wife and I now have a winter home in Arizona it may be possible to pursue CA cans while I'm in Yuma. Either way this man's memory will stay with me. If we employ the knowledge and wisdom of those around us then their energy stays within us. A little bit of a First Nations view of the world around me I think. Don loved the RB so it seemed fitting I finally join. I'll be here on the ground while you fly with eagles. WISjammer

[yelpster]

He will be missed. Great guy and mentor.

[zoinkss]

We had the memorial for Don this weekend at his camping site. The family put some of his ashes below his deer stand per his wishes.
I continually feel the pain and loss of Don in my life. As much as with my biological father. I could always talk to him and get advice from him just like with my dad. They were best friends and I truly understand why. Its hard to lose those you respect above all others.

RIP Don Lewinski!

[Lovegun]

Even though I didn't know him as well, I got that sense of closeness just in the time I knew him and talked to him.