Lee, Mark H.

Mark H. Lee, 91, Galena, Illinois, formerly of Rewey, Wisconsin, entered heaven on December 26, 2024. His family was at his side.

Mark Hillary Lee was born November 12, 1933, in Elvaston, Illinois, the son of the Rev. Erven C. and Elizabeth (Hillary) Lee. He spent his childhood in Elvaston; Highland, Wis.; and Herrin, Illinois. His best childhood memories were of the extended stays he had with his grandparents and aunt on the family farm in rural Platteville. It was his grandpa who instilled in Mark a strong work ethic and a lifelong love for farming and working the land. Always adventurous, as a teenager, Mark took private flying lessons and earned his pilot's license.

He graduated from Herrin High School in 1951 and then moved to Platteville to attend college.

One evening in the winter of his freshman year, he asked Janice Ann Jones if he could walk her home from a basketball game. She said yes and so began a great love story. They married on December 20, 1954, at the Belmont United Methodist Church. This year, they celebrated 70 years of marriage.

Mark served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1957, rising to the rank of First Lieutenant. He was a paratrooper in the 457th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion of the 11th Airborne Division. He was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and Munich, Germany.

After his military service, Mark completed a bachelor's degree in agriculture education at Wisconsin State University at Platteville, now the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

Mark and Janice farmed for over 65 years in the Belmont and Rewey area. A perfect day to him was spent feeding cattle. He was an early conservationist and proponent of no-till practices. One of his great joys was to farm alongside two of his sons, grandsons and great-grandsons.

Mark was a member of Peniel Church, a place that held a very special place in his heart and where he lived out his faith through his quiet presence and actions. Mark served as Rewey Village President and on the Iowa County Board. He was a member of the American Legion Post 42.

He was an extraordinary husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who loved his family with everything he had. Mark was a model of unconditional love, generosity, laughter and integrity. A giant of a man in our eyes, Grandpa gave the best hugs and taught us to enjoy a good cookie and a big bowl of ice cream.

Left to carry on his remarkable legacy are his wife of 70 years, Janice; his daughters: Jane (Jim) Kemnitzer, Rewey, and Hillary (Jay) Dickerson, Galena; three sons: Dr. Jeffrey Lee, Winter Garden, Florida; William Mark (Dawn) Lee and John (Cheryl) Lee, all of Rewey; a daughter-in-law, Melinda Lee, Mt. Dora, Florida; 15 grandchildren: Ben (Carrie), Brittany (Ryan), Travis (Rachel), Ellie (Josh), Brooke  Lee (Dennis), Leslie (Dan), Stevie (Carsen), Ryan (Molly), Anna (James), Chelsie (Justin), Hayley Jan (Mike), Molly, Lillian, Maya and Ruby Janice; two step-grandchildren, Michelle and Todd; and 31 great-grandchildren and two on the way: Jackson, Hudson, Presley, Isabella, Graham, Reese, Jaden Lee, Atley, Abby, Harper, Sawyer, Maddix, Mary, Connor, Everly, Layla, Jensen, Roman, Nora, Cade, Eastin Lee, Lennon Lee, Juniper, Charlotte Jan, Lawson Lee, Quinn, Carter Mark, Wyatt, Fletcher Lee, Aylin and Johnny.

He is further survived by his siblings: Marietta Korpi, Paul Lee and Jean (Leon) Pick; a sister-in-law, Emily Lee; and nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Abby Rose Lee, in 2004; a brother, Erven Lee; and a brother-in-law, Clifford Korpi.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, December 30 at Peniel Church, 1449 Peniel Road, Mineral Point. Chapel military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post #42 and VFW Post #5274. Burial will be at Peniel Cemetery,  Visitation will be Sunday, December 29 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Melby Funeral Home in Platteville and from 10 a.m. until the time of services Monday at the church. Memorials may be given to Peniel Church or to the Lee Family Scholarship Fund at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Online condolences can be made at www.melbyfh.com.

The family wishes to thank Hospice of Dubuque and Prairie Ridge of Galena, as well as granddaughters/nurses Brooke, Leslie and Chelsie, for the respectful care and warm kindness shown to our dad and our family.