Obituary for Elmer L. Lee
Elmer L. Lee passed away October 25, 2016 at Bell Tower Residence, Merrill, Wisconsin after a brief illness at the age of 95.
He was born May 5, 1921 in the Town of Summit in Langlade County, Wisconsin in a two room log cabin to Archie and Elizabeth (Strobel) Lee. He met his wife, Jeanette Yonke, at a dance and after a five year courtship they were married on September 27, 1947. They just celebrated 69 years of marriage.
In his younger years, Elmer worked as a logger and truck driver for his uncle Hugh Lee in Wisconsin and the U.P. of Michigan. On July 6, 1948, he began working as a truck driver for the Lincoln County Highway Department and retired 35 years later as a foreman. After a year, Elmer decided he wanted to go back to work because he said he was too young to sit around. He went to work for his brother-in-law, Bill Burgener, and worked another twelve years.
Elmer loved his Packers and Brewers. He like to fly fish and fishing of any type, hunting, woodworking, polka dancing, traveling and taking care of his two acre lawn. Elmer enjoyed going to Canada to fish and traveling to different states but his biggest joy was when he and Jeanette went to Alaska for their 50th wedding anniversary. Alaska was a place Elmer always talked about and wanted to see.
Elmer was a man everyone liked and he would do anything for you. People could never believe how old he was because his mind was so sharp and he could get around so well. As he always said, he had a good life. We will all miss those stories of the good old days, and he loved to talk about his grandkids and especially the three little great-grandkids. He taught us all something to carry with us in our everyday life.
Elmer is survived by his wife, Jeanette; two daughters, Linda (Dale) Zastrow of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho and Connie (Hugh) Lenox of Cambridge, Wisconsin; three grandchildren, Dean (Lynn) Zastrow, Jason (Megan) Londerville and Elizabeth Richter; and three great-grandchildren, Jameson, Evadne and Dresden Richter. He is further survived by brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. Elmer was preceded in death by his son, Gary; his parents, Archie and Elizabeth Lee; his in-laws, Ervin and Esther Yonke; three brothers, Herbert, Harold and Fay Lee; his sisters-in-law, Donna Petrowski, Dorothy Lee and Alice Lee; and his brother-in-law, Verlyn Yonke.
Elmer was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill, Wisconsin.
The funeral service for Elmer will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, November 5, 2016 at St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill. The Rev. David Szeto will officiate. Burial will take place in Luther Memorial Cemetery, Town of Russell, Lincoln County. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Friday, November 4, 2016 at the Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill. The Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com
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He was born May 5, 1921 in the Town of Summit in Langlade County, Wisconsin in a two room log cabin to Archie and Elizabeth (Strobel) Lee. He met his wife, Jeanette Yonke, at a dance and after a five year courtship they were married on September 27, 1947. They just celebrated 69 years of marriage.
In his younger years, Elmer worked as a logger and truck driver for his uncle Hugh Lee in Wisconsin and the U.P. of Michigan. On July 6, 1948, he began working as a truck driver for the Lincoln County Highway Department and retired 35 years later as a foreman. After a year, Elmer decided he wanted to go back to work because he said he was too young to sit around. He went to work for his brother-in-law, Bill Burgener, and worked another twelve years.
Elmer loved his Packers and Brewers. He like to fly fish and fishing of any type, hunting, woodworking, polka dancing, traveling and taking care of his two acre lawn. Elmer enjoyed going to Canada to fish and traveling to different states but his biggest joy was when he and Jeanette went to Alaska for their 50th wedding anniversary. Alaska was a place Elmer always talked about and wanted to see.
Elmer was a man everyone liked and he would do anything for you. People could never believe how old he was because his mind was so sharp and he could get around so well. As he always said, he had a good life. We will all miss those stories of the good old days, and he loved to talk about his grandkids and especially the three little great-grandkids. He taught us all something to carry with us in our everyday life.
Elmer is survived by his wife, Jeanette; two daughters, Linda (Dale) Zastrow of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho and Connie (Hugh) Lenox of Cambridge, Wisconsin; three grandchildren, Dean (Lynn) Zastrow, Jason (Megan) Londerville and Elizabeth Richter; and three great-grandchildren, Jameson, Evadne and Dresden Richter. He is further survived by brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. Elmer was preceded in death by his son, Gary; his parents, Archie and Elizabeth Lee; his in-laws, Ervin and Esther Yonke; three brothers, Herbert, Harold and Fay Lee; his sisters-in-law, Donna Petrowski, Dorothy Lee and Alice Lee; and his brother-in-law, Verlyn Yonke.
Elmer was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill, Wisconsin.
The funeral service for Elmer will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, November 5, 2016 at St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill. The Rev. David Szeto will officiate. Burial will take place in Luther Memorial Cemetery, Town of Russell, Lincoln County. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Friday, November 4, 2016 at the Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill. The Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com
Previous Events
Visitation
Friday
4
Nov
4:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
Taylor-Stine Funeral Home & Cremation Services
903 E. Third Street
Merrill, WI 54452
Service
Saturday
5
Nov
10:00 AM
St. John Lutheran Church
1104 E. Third St.
Merrill, WI 54452
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