J.L. Lee
J.L. Lee, 79, of Saxonburg went with Jesus to God's kingdom on Thursday at Concordia Hospice.
He was born March 4, 1944, in Chicot, Ark., to Curtis Lee and Bertha (Mason) Lee.
He was member of Saxonburg Memorial Presbyterian Church U.S.A. He belonged to the Man at the Cross study group, the Mora Club, the Golden Agers, the Cousins Monthly Group, the Salt Senior Group and the Sportsman Club. He enjoyed fishing, dancing and swimming. His favorite pastime was taking his grandchildren fishing.
He was 19 when he joined the U.S. Army in Fresno, Calif. After training at Fort Hood, he became a paratrooper. He completed 47 jumps in one year. He went to Germany and was assigned the cleanup of the concentration camps after Hitler's massacre of the Jewish people. Also while in Germany, he assisted the townspeople in rebuilding self-sufficiency by asking his commander to borrow an Army tractor to help till the war ravaged soil and plant vegetable seeds for them.
When the Korean war broke out, he received orders to lead his infantry battalion to parachute into the war zone. A Bouncing Betty was hit by one of his soldiers. Sadly, he was the only survivor. He laid critically wounded for three days waiting to be found. He had shrapnel covering his back and was shipped to the United States where he received the Purple Heart. He also received the Army Occupation Medal (Germany), Good Conduct Medal, International Defense Medal and others during his time of service.
J.L. Lee is survived by his wife, Phyllis Johnston Lee, who he married Nov. 20, 1994; three sons, Harry Leroy Lee of California, Larry McDonald of Saxonburg and Richard Johnston of Butler; four daughters, Patty (McDonald) Oshe of Florida, Georgia (McDonald) Stepanovich of Butler, Barbara (Johnston) Kubala of Saxonburg and Sharon (Johnston) Doorn of California; one sister, Annie (Lee) Pearson; two brothers, Curtis “Lavell” Lee and Willy L. Lee, both of Fresno, Calif.; and 14 grandchildren, Todd Johnston, Sara Mariacher, Clint Kiddle, Dillion Kiddle, Sharayah Kiddle, Norryannah Kubala, Christina (Shawn) Coddington, Heather (James) Schnur, Tabitha (McClain) Carraway, Shawn (Tina) McClain, Brett McDonald, Kathleen Mack, Ronald (Tracy) Stepanovich and Steven (Crystal) Stepanovich.J.L. also was blessed with 18 great grandchildren, Liam Kiddle, Shayla Kopp, Cole Coddington, Kashmir and Derek Wissinger, Brooke Schnur, Mia Stepanovich, McKenzie, Cameron, Caleb, and McKylie McClain, Chantel, Chance, Chiara, Chloe and Chaz Carraway, and Kaitlyn and Abby Stepanovich; and one great-great-granddaughter, Kenleigh Wissinger.He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Robert Lee; one brother, Herald Lee; two sisters, Lilly (Lee) Hamp and Hazel (Lee) Perry; and one great-granddaughter, Renee Pacheco.
LEE — J.L. Lee, passed away Thursday, May 10, 2012. Fox Funeral Home, Saxonburg, assisted the family with the arrangements.Information also is available at www.foxfuneralhomeinc.com.
