Dennis Lee

Funeral services for Dennis E. Lee,  age 75, of Albert Lea, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 31, 2015 at Crossroads Church. The Rev. James Petersen will officiate. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery with military honors accorded by the American Legion and VFW Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 p.m., Friday January 30, 2015 at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.
Dennis passed away peacefully at home, Tuesday, January 27th, of stomach cancer, surrounded by his family.
Dennis Elvin Lee was born on September 21, 1939 in Sioux Falls, SD, the son of Elvin A. and Myrtle M. (Knudson) Lee. He grew up in Brandon, SD, on the Lee Farmstead and enjoyed swimming in the river, riding horses, and playing basketball. He attended Augustana Academy in Canton, SD and graduated from Riverland Junior College with his Journeyman Cabinet Maker Certification and his Chief Boiler’s License. Dennis was united in marriage to Joyce Jeanette Thorson on June 23, 1962 at First Lutheran in Glenville. He served in the U. S. Army from 1963-65, and was stationed in Hawaii. After completing his service he and Joyce moved back to Albert Lea and raised their two daughters. Dennis was well-rounded and held a variety of positions throughout his life. He worked as a journeyman Cabinetmaker at Streaters for 10 years, an Inspector at Queens, a plumber, Finish Carpenter, and spent the last 18 years of his career working for the Albert Lea Schools as the District Engineer. During his retirement he drove a school bus for a few years and thoroughly enjoyed the kids he transported. His work was always challenging and demanding and he enjoyed it.
There was no higher priority to Dennis than his wife and family. He showed them by spending as much time as possible with them, up until travel became impossible.
His ultimate passion was building and carving early period Chippendale-style furniture. He also loved target shooting with his Golden Boy rifle. He said it made him feel like a boy on the farm again and helped him forget he was ill. He was an avid reader in his later years; he loved to sing, and performed many solos for weddings, funerals, and also performed with Harmony Junction.
Survivors include his wife Joyce; daughters DeAnn(Kevin) Johnson of Waverly, IA, Sandra (John) Kowalik of Huxley, IA; grandchildren Nichole (Elliot) Diehm, and Jeremy Johnson, both of Cedar Falls, IA, Cody Kowalik, Zach (Jessica) Kowalik, and Seth Kowalik of Ames, IA; great-grandson Tucker Diehm; sisters Pricilla (Pierre) Beuret of Ventnor, NJ, and Ruth Farthing of Jamestown, ND; brother-in-law Kenneth (Janelle) Thorson of Glenville; sister-in-law Marge (Marve) Gilbertson of Albert Lea; and several; nieces and nephews.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Elvin and Myrtle Lee, mother-in-la and father-in-law Oscar and Esther Thorson, brother Marlin Lee, sister Marie Zielsdorf, and nieces Judith Farthing and Deb Zielsdorf.