Memorial
John Edward Lee III, of 715 Dorchester PL NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died at St. Luke's Hospital on December 9, 2014, after an extended illness. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories, with a prayer service at 7:30 pm. Rev. Perry Fruhling will officiate the service.
John is survived by, his wife Dotty; his five children; Stephanie Lee of Fairfax, Virginia, Christina Sobus (Mark) of Houston, Texas, Shaun Kilduff (Kelley) , Kevin Kilduff (Donna) both of Baltimore, Maryland, and Shannon Kehoe (Terry) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. John was also blessed by 12 grandchildren. John is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Vernon.
John was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 28, 1939, to John Lee Jr. and Edna Lee. John grew up with his brother Vernon, sister Linda, and his paternal grandmother Lucia (Lucy). They lived in Petrolia, Pennsylvania where John's father owned and operated a pharmacy.
John matriculated at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Pharmacy and graduated from Slippery Rock College in 1962. After a short teaching career, John entered the United States Air Force in April, 1963 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on June 25, 1963. While serving on active duty as a reserve officer, John was stationed for three years at a Canadian Air Force Wing in Zweibrucken, Germany. Returning to the States, John was attached to the United States Tactical Air Command, Homestead, AFB, Florida. He had several temporary stateside tours of duty and a six month deployment to Kunson AFB, Korea. John was then directed to Phu Kat AFB, Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service during wartime hostilities. John's final station was at Eglin AFB, Florida. John rose to the rank of Captain and was discharged as a reserve officer on February 19, 1982.
John entered civilian employment in 1975 where he was employed by Environmental Elements Corporation, Baltimore, as a Safety and Security Manager. John, with his wife Dotty and daughter Shannon then moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where John was employed with National Oats Company, and Ralston Purina as Safety, Health and Worker' Compensation Manager. John was subsequently employed by Evergreen Packaging Equipment and retired from PMX Industries, Cedar Rapids.
John's family would like to send a special thank you to all of the staff at St. Luke's Hospital and Hospice for their care and compassion during his illness.