Lee Christ Herr, 07 Feb - 12 Feb 2021

HERR, HALDY, MCARTOR, GRAFEMAN, KAHLER, HARRINGTON, KLAAS, BENNINGHOVEN, WOOD, SEYE, SAWYER, BRECHT

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 2/17/2021 at 10:30:42

Lee Christ Herr, 87, left his earthly home on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, surrounded by his loving family. In God's mercy, he had a full and happy life before cancer claimed his body. A private funeral service for the family will be held with Elder Christie Yoder officiating. Memorials may be contributed to the Amana Church. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Lee was born to Rudolph and Viola (Haldy) Herr on Feb. 9, 1934, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He lived in Middle Amana as a child until his family moved to High Amana. He graduated from Amana High School and received a certificate in tool and die engineering from Iowa Technical Institute, but his great knowledge and skills were experiential and contributed to his enjoyment and successes in two different work careers.

He retired from the Amana Refrigeration in 1975, where he served as a tool and die engineer and manager since 1952; in order to become production manager at Amana Furniture Shop, where he worked for 20 years before retiring in 1996. His third career was enjoying retirement which he has done for the past 25 years living in Florida, Texas, Arizona and Middle Amana.

He was a member of the St. Clair Masonic Lodge, Amana Church, Amana Heritage Society, Middle Amana Fire Department and the Amana Sportsmans Club.

He was a loved and loving husband to Marlys McArtor Herr (deceased in 2001), Joyce Grafeman Herr (deceased 2007), and his current wife, Gerry Kahler Herr. Lee and Marlys were blessed with three children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, Keela Ann Herr (Alan Harrington), Shay, Taylor and Grayson (Tayvia); Jacki Lee (Gary) Klaas, Brittany (Alex) Benninghoven, Lauren, Isaac, Liam, Abby (Chris) Wood; Christian Lee (Angela)Herr, Stephanie (Shane) Seye, Alyssa, Lee (Jacky) Sawyer and baby on the way. He is also survived by his wife Gerry's daughter, Robin (Doug) Brecht and Rick Kahler and their families.

Lee was an energetic and enthusiastic lover of life and people. His positive attitude and ever-present smile was contagious to those around him and very little in life removed them. He had many hobbies and passions that morphed over the course of his life. He was gifted in mechanics and construction and created many lovely pieces of furniture. He was an avid hunter of deer and pheasants (and all sorts of game), a passion he passed down to his son and grandchildren. He enjoyed the outdoors including camping and fishing with family and friends, but also the indoors finding entertainment in occasional visits to the closest casino.

He loved singing and was a member of the Amana Chorus and the Four Fifths. Later in life he added golfing to his most enjoyed activities, loved to travel and read and most recently transformed his carpenter skills into woodworking craftsmanship creating beautiful pieces of art. During his final test of cancer, he continued to grow in his love of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He embraced his devotions for strength to endure the challenges faced as his body and mind failed him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rudolph and Viola Herr; his brother Roger; his first wife, Marlys; and his second wife, Joyce.

Online condolences: www.klosterfuneralhome.com.

Published in The Gazette on February 14, 2021.