Douglas Floyd LEE

LEE, BEHNKE, KLOBERDANZ, ANDERSON, ANDREWS, LEVY, MUHLSTEIN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/28/2015 at 14:40:25

February 5, 1919 ---- October 23, 2015

Douglas Floyd Lee, age 96, most recently of Belmond, IA, a longtime resident in Clear Lake, IA, died, Friday, October 23, 2015, of complications from a major stroke at the Iowa Specialty Hospital, Belmond, IA, surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM, Wednesday, October 28, 2015, at the Clear Lake Christian Church, Clear Lake, IA. Ron Andrews will be officiating. Burial with full military honors provided by the Clear Lake Honor Guard Seratoga Post #4868 will be in the Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, IA. Visitation will be on Tuesday at the Clear Lake Christian Church from 430-730 PM and will continue on Wednesday 1 hour prior to the services also at church. Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial in Doug's name may wish to consider Hospice of Wright County, or to the family %P.O. Box 224, Belmond, IA 50421, or the donor's choice.

Douglas Floyd Lee, the son of Morley V. and Bertha (Behnke) Lee, was born February 5, 1919, in Mason City, IA. He attended Mason City Public Schools and attended Mason City High School. During his early adult years he competed in Golden Gloves Boxing, a sport that he excelled at on a regional level.

In early adulthood Doug worked as a meat cutter. His father also initiated him into the carpentry and construction trade, a profession that would eventually become a life career that he would continue in well into his late 80's.

Douglas enlisted in the United States Army on February 19, 1942 with his initial destination being the European Theater of Operations. Doug faithfully served his country during World War II as part of the Company M 133rd Infantry-Red Bull Division, with much of his tenure spent in the middle of the main battle fields of the region and throughout Rome-Arno and Italy. He and his division landed and fought in the battles at Anzio Beach Head and survived 30 days in this specific battle, amongst other battle locations. Like many a service man or woman these years of his life helped mold his future and life history. Doug quietly but proudly shared stories of this great worldly event with his children and grandson, Zachary in the later years of his life. Douglas was Honorably Discharged as a Private First Class on August 20, 1946, at the Separation Center, Fort Sheridan, Ill. During his time in the service Doug had the Military Occupational Specialty of Military Policeman. He was awarded the Rifle SS Combat Infantry Badge, American Defense Service Ribbon, Victory Medal European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with One Bronze Battle Star and Six Overseas Service Bars.

Upon returning to civilian life, Doug was united in marriage to Ann Kloberdanz, at the Holy Family Catholic Church, Mason City on May 5, 1948. Their union was blessed with two daughters, Debbie and Laurie. Following their marriage the couple lived in Mason City, where Ann continued her career at the Style Shop and Douglas joined in his father, Morley's construction business full-time. Doug eventually became a general contractor and master cabinet builder. In 1949, Doug and Ann decided to build a summer cottage on the south side of Clear Lake for summer getaways. In 1958, Doug and Ann made their cottage in Clear Lake their permanent home and worked at expanding it and remodeling it as a team one room at a time.

In 1958, the couple purchased and renovated a closed bowling alley and coffee shop in Ventura, IA, and operated it under the name of "The Village Inn." Doug and Ann turned the restaurant into one of the premiere steak houses in the region along with a thriving bowling operation. In 1968, they sold the business and it's name was changed to what is known in recent times as "The Colony Inn" in Ventura. After selling the restaurant/bowling businesses, Doug returned to his business known as "Lee's Construction, Inc." His chosen vocation brought him to build countless homes and help construct and remodel numerous businesses throughout Clear Lake, Mason City, and around the North Iowa region. His love and expert knowledge of the profession carried with him as he continued his vocation well into his late 80's. His meticulously honed skills and creative hands, along with his ingenuities' mind and vision of the project at hand were truly amazing. He could complete many of the projects without the need for measuring of formulating the finished project, rather his mind and personal vision of the particular task at hand. It was absolutely hard to fathom his mind at work as he scratched out numbers and rough blue prints of the jobs to be done. Even as recently as this past few weeks he was still formulating solutions to many different construction opportunities, mostly for his two daughters in their various ventures.

Doug and Ann truly loved and cherished raising their two daughters and nurturing and providing for their needs and wants. Doug spent many summers working for his daughter Debbie (Sherman) Anderson at the Iverson Movie Ranch when she lived in Chatsworth, CA. Doug also provided much labors of love and expertise in doing countless projects for his daughter, Laurie Andrews and her family during his lifetime.

Douglas was an avid and very proficient bowler. In the early years of his life he honed his skills both individually and along side his brothers on many different teams and competitions in Iowa and around the Midwest. Both he as an individual and as a team won countless competitions and championships. Doug was the first bowler in the State of Iowa to roll an 800 series, achieving this great accomplishment on December 16, 1959, when he shot the first ever sanctioned three game series in the State of Iowa with a total pin count of 802, at Lee's Lanes in Mason City, a venue operated by his family. This also led to him being recognized as "Bowler of the Year". Doug's love for bowling, the spirit of the competition and his expertise eventually led him to induction in both the local and State Bowling Hall of Fame's. Doug and his brothers, Harry, Ralph, Russell, and Robert teamed up on many occasions to compete in area and state competitions. Doug enjoyed attending and bringing his family to the Annual Mason City Bowling Association Banquets even in the later years of his life when health allowed.

Doug was an avid golfer, hitting the golf links in the regions and he had traveled throughout the United States and world in pursuit of various golf destinations. He, along with his friends and family members played in Iowa, Biloxi, Florida, California, Arkansas, and overseas at the world famous Bally Bunion course in Ireland. He had achieved three hole in ones in his lifetime and his proficiency at the game allowed him to shoot scratch golf at the mature age of 90. He had met many of the elite golfers of his time and loved to teach his daughters and grandson, Zach the skills and etiquette of the game.

In earlier years of his married life, Doug would travel with friends to hunt Canadian geese in North Platte, NE. He had also owned duck shacks for many years at Eagle Lake, near Britt, IA, and Ventura Marsh. He relished memories of these years sharing countless and vivid stories of the adventures of duck hunting days gone by. He loved the tranquility and relaxation of fishing at Clear Lake, wading along the shore lines of The Island and along the rush beds. He and Ann also built one of the first house boats on the lake and spent many years of enjoyment on it.

Doug and Ann looked forward to dancing excursions and could often be seen beautifully gliding across the many venues ballrooms of northern Iowa. The couple had a mutual fondness for antiques and looked forward to attending dozens of antique and auction sales throughout the years. This love for antiquing led them to own and operate "The Red Barn Antiques & Crafts" for many years near Clear Lake State Park. Doug truly appreciated the opportunity to visit with customers and friends that stopped by the business to buy items, or just to visit.

He and his lifetime team mate Ann spent many years selling items he had made at area crafts shows and homemade baked goods and Ann's famous pies at local farmers markets. In the past he looked forward to helping out at Debbie's annual Chili Cook-offs and the D and D Haunted Hike, along with always helping out with visionary ideas to make his daughter, Laurie's, Andrews Floral business thrive, even as recently as two weeks ago he was offering his knowledge of how to make things better. His mind was always working, as he was always scratching out drawing and crunching out costs and supply needs for ideas that developed in his mind.

Doug and Ann looked forward to taking Debbie and Laurie on weekend family camping trips to various places, a favorite of which was Linn Grove Camp Ground, Rockwell, IA, where Doug and his family could spend time on the golf course adjacent to the campgrounds. The family had also traveled to Arkansas and various other places.

Doug was a wonderful and compassionate grandpa to his only grandson, Zach Andrews. The two's bond and boundless love for one another was truly an amazing gift. They were "Best Friends Forever" and shared so many mutual interests. The New York Yankees, hunting, all kinds of sports, nature, fishing, UFC, football, golf, bowling, baseball and nearly everything in between. During the various stints of time that Doug lived in the home of his daughter, Laurie's, Doug developed a love for Zach's favorite sport of folk style wrestling and couldn't wait to hear the results of Zach's many competitions, and he would often spend time watching college wrestling with Laurie, Zach, and Tony on T.V. He was an ardent Pittsburgh Steelers and Boston Celtics fan and extremely proud of his Irish-Canadian heritage.

Doug was always looking forward to visiting about the happenings of the day. Nearly everyday he greeted, Zach with a handshake and loving "Hello", "what's going on today?!". He anxiously awaited to visit about the events of the day and always was more interested in talking and caring about others rather than about his own needs. He absolutely loved almost anything that was sweet and would often forego the main course of a meal and eat the dessert in it's place. He loved to keep abreast of current state, national, and worldly happenings and was very hip for his age, loving to watch Dancing with the Stars, The Voice, American Idol, Garage Wars, and so many other modern day shows, along with often watching movies and listening to music from the earlier years of his life.

Doug truly was a "gentle" man. He enjoyed to the simple pleasures of life and had a undying love for his wife and life partner of more than 58 years Ann, who died November 30, 2006, and his daughters and their families. He was always the cheerleader for the family in all that they did, all the way until the end of his life, being concerned for their health and well-being. He will be remembered for his excellent construction knowledge and the proficiency in this trade. Those fortunate enough to cross and share in his life footsteps will recall his genuine respect for others. His handshake and his word were as "good as gold" when it came to a contract or promise he made to customers, family and friends. His words were well thought out and very straight forward. He was a wonderful role model and "Best Friend" to his grandson, Zach.

Doug was a lifetime member of the VFW Post #4868 and the American Legion. He also was a stockholder at Farmer's Lumber Coop in Clear Lake.

He rejoined his wife, Ann, and other loved one's in eternal life as gently as he lived his life, quietly and peacefully after a week long battle following a stroke. Those left to cherish the legacy of Doug's life include his daughters Debbie Anderson and husband Dale, Clear Lake, IA, Laurie Andrews and husband Tony, and Doug's grandson Zachary Andrews, all of Belmond, IA; nephews Doug H. "Dude" and wife Phyllis Lee, Mason City, IA, Morely Lee and (Sherrine), Mason City, IA; nieces Connie Levy, Mason City, IA, and Trudy (Richard) Muhlstein, Mason City, IA; along with numerous other great nieces and great nephews and their families, friends, and other extended relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Ann, infant son "Baby Boy Lee", brothers Harry, Russell, Ralph, Robert and Lenny Lee, and a sister Beatrice. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, IA.

October 27, 2015
Mason City Globe Gazette -- Mason City, IA