Judson Lee
January 16, 2014
Judson Lee, age 94, passed away January 16, 2014 at the Regency Care Center in Norwalk.
Jud was born June 24, 1919 in Wick, Iowa, the son of Royal and Helen (Level) Lee. He attended Martensdale High School and graduated from Simpson College. While in his first year of teaching in Lorimor, he met his wife, Ann Collins - his “Irish rose”. He and Ann raised four children together on the south side of Des Moines.
At the beginning of World War II, he worked briefly at Bethlehem Steel Ship Building in New Jersey preparing deferrals for the builders. He attended the U.S. Maritime Academy and served in the Merchant Marines as a deck officer on many ships.
He returned to Des Moines and sold accounting machines at Underwood-Sunstrand, and worked as an office manager for Solar Aircraft. In his 30 years as a business teacher and co-op coordinator at Tech High School, he inspired students into careers in business, accounting, and secretarial fields.
Jud was a member of Ft. Des Moines United Methodist Church and the South Des Moines Lions Club. He enjoyed his family (and, of course, Lee reunions), Cubs baseball, bowling leagues, horseshoes, cribbage, and reciting favorite poems.
Jud was preceded in death by his wife, Ann; son, Dennis; and six siblings: Alice, Pauline, Raymond, Dorothy (infant), Lois, and Mary.
He is survived by his children, Barbara Jacobson (Richard) and Carol Lee - both of Colorado, and son John Lee (Jeri) of Ankeny; brothers, Keith Lee (Maxine) and Paul Lee (Phyllis) - both of Indianola; five grandchildren: Brandon, Jessica, Joe, Laura, and David; seven great-grandchildren; and many wonderful nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff and residents at the Regency Care Center for their care and kindness.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the South Des Moines Lions Club or the Ft. Des Moines United Methodist Church.
We love you and will miss you, Jud…our dad, grandpa, brother, uncle, teacher, and friend.
Steve Koch
01/22/2014
Deepest sympathy to the Lee family. Jud was a excellent teacher and a great colleague. Had lots of fun being on the same bowling team with Jud in the Schoolmasters bowling league. He will be greatly missed.
Steve Koch
Bob Davenport
01/20/2014
Judson F - Friends for 59 years, even though you were a Cub fan. Robert E
George and Maggie Fischer
01/19/2014
To the Lee family. My wife Maggie and I want to send our sympathy to all of you. We both went a long ways back with Jud. Maggie and I both taught at Tech with him. Maggie was in the same business department with Jud during the 60's and he and I rode to work together for several years. After we all left Tech, Jud and I later worked together at a grain company. In all the years I knew him, I can honestly say, I never heard another person make a disparaging remark about Jud. He was highly thought of by all his colleagues. I'm sorry Maggie and I won't be in town for his services but we know your many good memories will sustain you thru this difficult time.
Wilma Seymour
01/19/2014
All of our family is sad right now but Knowing Uncle Jud he would want us to live the following Poem
He was dearly loved. I think my BEST memory, WAS SO CARING AND INTERESTED IN PEOPLE AND THEIR LIVES.
LOVE AND PRAYERS TO UNCLE JUDS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
He is Gone
You can shed tears that he is gone
or you can smile because he has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that he'll come back or you can open your eyes and see all he has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see him or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember him and only that he is gone or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back or you can do what he would want : smile , open your eyes love and go on.
As he told His daughter Carol, we all have to die, sometime.
Joe and Tonya Battin
01/18/2014
To the Lee Family, We are sorry to hear about your father. Our heart felt sympathies to your family, and
may memories surround you and lift you up.
Joe & Tonya and family