Lee Williams

Lee Arden Williams was called to his eternal rest on January 7, 2016. He died peacefully at his rural Waseca home with his family at his bedside.

Lee was born on May 25, 1952 in Casa Grande, Arizona to Arden and Arlene (Haukvik) Williams. He was baptized and confirmed in Lutheran churches in Arizona and Minnesota. Lee attended schools in Hanska and St. James, graduating from St. James High School in 1970. He attended Southwest State University in Marshall and completed his Bachelor of Science degree at Mankato State University in 1976. Lee's studies in biology and chemistry, and experiences in his youth - especially scouting, prepared him for a lifelong career in environmental sciences.

During a summer break from college, lee worked at Cedar Valley Rehabilitation Workshop in Austin, MN where he met his wife, Jeanette Bergren. They were married at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Austin, in 1975. Shortly after their marriage, they moved from Austin to Ormsby, and finally Waseca in 1978, where they raised their three children.

Lee's work history began, in his youth, driving a dump truck in St. James and ended driving a dump truck during his retirement working for Borneke Construction. In between, he was employed by Waseca County for 34 years, retiring in 2012. His tenure at the county began as sanitarian (health inspector), evolved to environmental health specialist, and concluded as the department head of the Waseca County Recycling Center, which he was primarily responsible for developing and establishing. Lee was proud that Waseca County led the state of MN in volume of recycling for several years under his watch.

Throughout his life, Lee pursued many activities in his love of the outdoors. Family vacations canoeing in the BWCAW allowed him to share that passion with his family and friends. In addition to canoeing and camping, Lee enjoyed hunting, fishing and four-wheeling adventures. He was a "gentleman farmer" raising chickens, golden retrievers, trees and huge quantities of vegetables. He especially enjoyed spending time with his eight grandchildren and participating in their activities.

Lee served several terms as a member of the Board of Elders at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Community involvement included leading a Boy Scout pack, serving on the city planning commission and various boards and committees during his lifetime.

Lee is survived by his parents; wife, Jeanette; and three children, Kari (Jon) VanThuyne of Mankato, Katie (Jake) Staloch of rural Janesville, and Jacob (Neely Prenzlow) of Good Thunder. He will be missed by eight grandchildren: Taylor Alexis, Alexandra, Sadie, Quentin, Zane, Oliver, and Camilla. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Delores Peterson of Minneapolis and Surprise, AZ; brothers-in-law, Don Dahl of Onamia and Jim (Lynette) Dahl of Minneapolis; two nephews; one niece; a Godson; aunts; uncles; and cousins.

Lee was preceded in death by a brother, Sherman (in infancy); his maternal and paternal grandparents; father-in-law; and several uncles.

Lee was very generous in life and in death, as he chose to donate his body to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester for further medical advancement.

Funeral services will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Waseca on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. Visitation with family and friends will be held at McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory on Monday, January 11, 2016 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and for one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.