Lee, Raymond Sylvester (1925-2007)

LEE, SPECHT, HANSEN, KEHRBERG, JOHNSON

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 3/29/2008 at 17:30:47

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, July 23, 2007

Raymond S. Lee of Sheldon died Saturday, July 21, 2007, at the Sanford Sheldon Medical Center -- Senior Care in Sheldon, reaching the age of 81 years, 9 months and 28 days.

Raymond Sylvester Lee, the son of Emil and Freda (Specht) Lee, was born Sept. 23, 1925, in Plymouth County near Le Mars. He grew up in Le Mars and graduated from the Le Mars High School in 1943. In 1943, Raymond enlisted with the United States Marine Corp and saw action in Iwo Jima and in the occupation of Japan. After his discharge from the service in May 1946, he returned to the Le Mars area, where he was united in marriage to Dorothy Hansen on April 27, 1947 at St. John Lutheran Church in Le Mars.

Raymond was employed with the Iowa Public Service as an Electrical Utility Worker in Le Mars; he transferred to Sheldon in 1960 and retired from the company in October 1990.

Ray became a resident of the Sanford Sheldon Medical Center -- Senior Care in August 2004.

He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sheldon; the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7354, the American Legion Post #145 both in Sheldon and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He enjoyed woodworking and metal art.

Ray leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Dorothy of 60 years, and their two sons, James and his wife, Laurie Lee of Lisbon and Thomas and his wife, Theresa Lee of Cedar Rapids; four grandchildren, Adam, Kati, Isaac and Jackson Lee; a brother and his wife, Eugene and Alice Lee of Mount Ida, Ark.; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Frank Lee and two sisters, Wilma Kehrberg and Gladys Johnson.

Funeral services will be Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sheldon, with the Rev. Mark Kukkonen and Intern Carrie Anderson, officiating. Burial will be in St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Sheldon, with military graveside services by the Sheldon Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7354 and the American Legion Post #145.

Visitation will be after 4 p.m. today (Monday) at the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon, with the family present from 6:30 to 8 p.m.