Gilbert Lee

Gilbert J. Lee, age 91 years, of Merrillan and formerly of Elroy, Wisconsin, passed away on Thursday, January 7, 2010 at the Black River Memorial Hospital in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, parting life peacefully with dignity, he will be dearly missed.

He was born on July 2, 1918 to Martin and Tena (Gullickson) Lee in the Town of Plymouth, near Elroy, Wisconsin.  He lived in the Elroy area until 1936, when the family moved to New Lisbon, where he graduated from the New Lisbon High School in 1937.  He later graduated from Juneau County Normal in 1940 and taught at the Perry School between New Lisbon and Elroy the following year.

On May 27, 1941, Gilbert was united in marriage to Evelyne Ritchart of New Lisbon.  They left immediately following for San Francisco, where Gilbert worked in the carpenter trade for 2 ½ years prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Army Air Corps.  He went through the numerous phases of training at many bases on the west coast and graduated as a pilot at Pecos, Texas in April 1945.  He was then sent back to Lincoln, Nebraska awaiting assignment.  With the ending of the World War II in August, he was discharged in September 1945.

The couple made their home in Elroy since that time.  They were long time owners of Elroy Hardware and Lee Gas Company.  In 1966, they ventured into the natural gas business with the start of Elroy Gas, which was sold to Madison Gas and Electric in 1993.  He was a member of the Elroy United Methodist Church, a director and Vice President of Royal Bank in Elroy, a Rotary Club member since 1947, an American Legion member for over 50 years, and was a 32^nd Degree Mason.  In their later years they resided at Merrillan, Wisconsin.

Survivors include his three daughters, Marcia (Kenneth) Lindner of Merrillan, Kathy (Wayne) Olson of Onalaska, and Rebecca Lee of Merrillan; eight Grandchildren; sixteen Great Grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Marion (Clayton) Hansen of Clifton and a brother-in-law, Donald (Lucille) Ritchart of Colorado.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyne on October 11, 2009; three brothers, Leonard, Robert and Hulder; and four sisters, Alice, Helen, Ethel and an infant, Helen.