Robert "Bob" Lee

Robert “Bob” Lee, 92 of rural Battle Lake died Saturday, April 17, 2021, at his home.

Robert James Lee was born on February 5, 1929, in Boone, Iowa the son of Shelly and Doris (Phillips) Lee.  Bob graduated from Boone High School in 1947, continued his education at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in Geography and History.

Bob and Norma Spiegel were married on December 22, 1951, in the Presbyterian Church in Storm Lake, Iowa.  After college Bob taught one year in Bode, Iowa and then sold Salad Master Cookware for a short time.  He and Norma moved to their farm by Hamburg, Iowa where he raised livestock and grain farmed.  In 1988, they retired from farming and moved to their home by Battle Lake, where Bob did Otter Tail County Census, did Federal Crop Insurance adjusting, became friends with Kurt Maethner, and began working for KC Lawn which he enjoyed for seventeen years.  Bob was a member of the Vining Lutheran Church.  He officiated basketball for twenty-one years, both high school and college, was in the Iowa Hall of Fame for both boys and girls basketball, and he refereed in Big 8, Big 10 and Missouri Valley College Ball.  He enjoyed golf, did a lot of summer and winter fishing, the family vacationed for many summers on West Battle Lake prior to moving to Minnesota.  He enjoyed his family and especially his three granddaughters, Dawn, Lily and Joanna, his special friends in AA, and the companionship of his dog, Bella and cat, Willow.

He is survived by two daughters, Roxanne (Dwight) Swisher of Vining and Rhonda Lee of Colorado Springs, CO.; three granddaughters, Dawn Swisher of Battle Lake, Lily (Glenn) Main of Parker, CO. and Joanna Briese of Lake Tahoe and Santa Rosa, CA.; brother, Glen R. (Janice) Lee of Boone, Iowa; and by numerous relatives and friends.  Bob was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-five years, Norma; grandson, Aaron; parents, Shelly and Doris Lee; five brothers, Warren, Dean, Charlie, Jake and Thomas Lee; and by two sisters, Beverly Chrisman and Ruth Rising.

Visitation Wednesday, April 21, 2021, from 3 to 6 PM, with a Prayer Service at 6 PM, at the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Battle Lake.

Interment: Vining Lutheran Cemetery

Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson of Battle Lake.

Condolences:GlendeNilson.Com