Howard V. Lee

Howard Lee, age 88 of Viroqua, died Sunday, June 28, 2009. Howard V. Lee, age 88 of Viroqua, died early Sunday morning, June 28, 2009 at his home with his family present, after a short illness with cancer. He was born November 30, 1920, the son of Lewis Lee and Hilda (Noboe) Lee on the home farm in Portland, rural Cashton, WI. He was the youngest of 10 children. He attended school at Portland until 8th grade. He then farmed the home farm until he was drafted into the Army, and proudly served with the 95th Infantry Division on the shores of Normandy and Metz France. Howard was wounded and returned to assist in the liberation of Buckenwold Concentration Camp. He continued to be an active member of the 95th Division attending many reunions. He married Gladys Dunnum on April 22, 1949 and returned to the home farm until his retirement in 1978. Besides milking cows and raising crops, tobacco, cucumbers and children, Howard also sold Jenks Seed Corn. In retirement he and Gladys moved to Viroqua. He worked at Cashton Feed & Seed, worked for Leland Lewison on his farm and also on Roland Christiansons farm for many years. Howard volunteered at the local meal sites, was very active with the Senior Citizens groups, danced with the Old Stylers of La Crosse, and enjoyed camping throughout the U.S. with friends. He was also a member of the VFW, Purple Heart and Disabled Vets. He enjoyed exercising at the Heart Center, playing cards and Saturday morning Breakfast with Donny.In his later years, he enjoyed going for car rides in the country looking at farms, barns, cattle and crops. He could never get enough fishing and was always trying to catch the next biggest catfish. Survivors are his wife Gladys of 60 years; six children: Linda (Gaylord) Emerson, Peggy (Wayne) Oesterle, Diane (Norbert) Resheske, Tom (Michelle) Lee, Dan (Melissa) Lee, and Don Lee; 12 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by infant son Gerald who died at birth; 5 brothers: Roy, Ray, Chester, Palmer and Orvis Lee; 4 sisters: Lillian Lee, Esther VanRiper, Ida Haugen, and Sally Miller. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at Good Shepard Lutheran Church in Viroqua. The Rev. Lindsay Paul Jordan and The Rev. Margaret Eiben Hoversten will officiate. Burial with military rites by the Cashton VFW Post #8584 will be in the Portland Cemetery. Friends may call on the family from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the VosseteigLarson Funeral Home, 123 W. Decker (Hwy 56) in Viroqua.