Deemer Lee 1905-1979

LEE, ANDERSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/6/2012 at 21:26:37

“30” for Deemer Lee
Daily News Founder Dies
Estherville – Deemer Lee, 74, an Estherville newspaper publisher for 41 years, died Sunday afternoon, July 8, at Holy Family Hospital following an illness of eight months.

Services for Mr. Lee will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Fuhrman Funeral Home, Estherville, with the Rev. Harvey Throop officiating. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Friends may all at the funeral home after noon Tuesday until time of services.

Since his retirement in 1968, Mr. Lee had enjoyed playing golf, reading and writing. He had completed a family history and had also written a history of Estherville and Emmet County, “Esther’s Town.” This historical record, which includes anecdotes, personalities and events gleaned from Mr. Lee’s memories and extensive research is being considered for publican by the Iowa State University Press at Ames.

Mr. Lee was born in Estherville on March 31, 1905, the son of Judge and Mrs. Nelson Lee. After graduation from Estherville High School in 1923, he attended the University of Chicago where he was news editor of the Daily Maroon and a correspondent and reporter for the Chicago Tribune.

He purchased the weekly Estherville Democrat in 1927 and changed the name to Estherville News. In 1930 the paper became the Estherville Daily News. In 1944 a brother, Robert N. Lee, joined Mr. Lee in the ownership and publishing of the Daily News. They continued to publish the newspaper until selling it to William E. Beck of Spirit Lake in 1968.

In 1968 Mr. Lee received the Iowa Press Association’s honorary Master Editor-Publisher award.

He served as director of the Iowa Daily Press Association, was active in Inland Press, was director and officer of the Estherville Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Development Commission, Estherville Golf and Country Club, served on the executive committee of Holy Family Hospital, on the Estherville Planning Commission and was a member of the board of the Estherville Junior College Foundation. He was a charter member of the Estherville Rotary club.

Golf and the activities of the Estherville Golf and Country Club were a continuing interest to Mr. Lee. He spent many hours serving on the grounds and greens committee and enjoyed helping young golfers improve their game.

He was married to Everyld Anderson on July 12, 1938. The couple have two sons, Robert D. Lee, Colorado Springs, Colo., and William N. Lee, Wichita, Kan., and one grandson, William, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Lee.

The family has established a memorial fund.

The Daily News will be closed from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday in respect to Mr. Lee.

In the newspaper field, “30” means “the end.” (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, July 9, 1979)