Childcare is an important part of a local economy that allows parents to work outside the home. Finding quality, reliable, and available childcare is a common concern for parents of young children in Beloit and surrounding areas. But for 47 years, parents who have been fortunate enough to get their children through the doors of Barbara Lewis’s daycare have had that need met in abundance. After serving multiple generations of families and impacting countless children, Lewis is closing this chapter and beginning a well-deserved retirement on August 19, 2026.
Lewis began her daycare business in the fall of 1979. Throughout her career, she has provided stable full-time childcare for many families, as well as flexible part-time spots for those who need that instead. She initially worked part-time until a need arose from a family who had lost their babysitter and convinced Lewis to change to a full-time provider.
Lewis originally cared for children in her own home. Barb and her husband, Dale Lewis, began building what they had planned to be a garage across the street from her in-home daycare before they decided to move to a home in the country. No longer needing a garage in town, they then turned the new structure into the daycare center that she has used from the summer of 1999 to the present.
A daycare provider is an important person in the lives of kids whose parents work outside the home. “She (Barb) was always their second mom, maybe their first most of the time,” says Gina Chitty, whose two sons, Dalton and Dylan, went to Barb’s from 6-weeks-old through 4th grade. They are now 30 and 26 years old. Many lifelong friendships have been made through time spent in daycare and some of her long-grown “kids” continue to visit her from time to time.
One of Lewis’s first full-time families were the Schwerman kids. Aaron started daycare in 1980, Kari in 1983, and Kayla in 1987. Their mother, Joan Schwerman, says that she can attest to “Barb’s steady patience and awesome tolerance in dealing with us parents and our kids for nearly 15 years.” Perhaps one of the best testaments to the care Lewis has provided is that when Kayla (Cheney) came back to Beloit and started a family, she also chose Lewis to care for her own daughter Myra, who has been one of “Barb’s kids” for nearly nine years.
“Barb was more than a provider; she was a second home. Her caring demeanor and willingness to accommodate every kid is special,” says Amber Fouts, whose two children, Laikynn and Paxton, went to Barb’s. In addition to sending her own kids there, Fouts also uses Lewis’s daycare as a social environment for therapy for the special needs kids she works with.
Lewis has a special way with children, no doubt honed with years of experience. Many parents have marveled at her ability to get kids to do things they would not do at home, such as eating a certain food or easily fall asleep on a mat at naptime. “Barb’s kids” enjoy playing dress up with her collection from over the years, playing games, going outside, and drawing. They participate in special activities for holidays, have birthday treats, and reading time with “Miss Terry” (Peterson) from the Port Library. A kid-favorite is her homemade macaroni and cheese for lunch.
Outside of caring for her daycare kids, Lewis is also well-known for her talent as a seamstress. She enjoys gardening and previously spent many years playing softball and bowling in the women’s league in Beloit. After retirement, Barb and Dale plan to do a little traveling and attempt to keep up with their son Andy Lewis and his wife Carrie and their grandson Brody.
Barb leaves behind a legacy of pouring out her heart to serve children and families in our community and we wish her well in the next chapter of life. She will be greatly missed by her kids and their families.
