Eugene Lee
Gene was born on June 2, 1936, to Patrick and Marie (Schmidt) Lee in Wabasha, Minnesota. Gene attended Plainview High School in Minnesota. He served in the United States Air Force from March 1955 to June 1965. While serving in the military, he met and married Thelma Marchant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on April 13, 1959. Gene and Thelma opened Lee’s Refrigeration in 1965 in Seward, Nebraska, where Gene served as CEO. In his free time, he enjoyed traveling, flying, shooting craps, and the monthly reunions with his longtime Air Force Friends. Gene was an avid supporter of the Seward community and a highly respected businessman.
He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Seward, Nebraska. He was also a 60-year member of American Legion Post #33 in Seward, Nebraska. Gene passed away on Friday, September 16, 2016, in Seward, Nebraska at the age of 80 years, 3 months, and 14 days. Gene is survived by his daughter and husband, Monique and Richard Keever, Tacoma, Washington; sister, Stella Lamey, Grand Rapids, Michigan; sister-in-law, Betty Marchant, Austin, Minnesota, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Gene was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma; parents, Patrick and Marie Lee; sisters-in-law, Cleta Marchant, Jennith Marchant, Marie (Lyle)Kinnick, Zelda (James) Monroe; brothers-in-law and wives, Rex and Mildred Marchant, Lindsay and Opal Marchant, Melvin and Donna Marchant; and brothers-in-law, John Woods and David Lamey.
A funeral Mass was held on Wednesday, September 21, 2016, at St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church in Seward, NE with full military rites following the service there. A funeral service will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Conception, rural Kellogg at 11:00 am Saturday, September 24, 2016, with Deacon John DeStazio officiating. Interment will follow at St. Peter and Paul Cemetery at Conception. Family and friends may call at the church on Saturday one hour before the service. The Volzke Funeral Home of Seward, NE and the Abbott Funeral Home of Wabasha are in charge of arrangements. www.abbott.com
