Date of Birth:
Monday, August 12, 1918
Date of Death:
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Age:
99 years old

Lee Elmer Graham

Lee E. Graham, 99, Rochester native, committed supporter of local causes and beloved family patriarch, passed away peacefully in his sleep Saturday at Madonna Towers Skilled Nursing Facility where he had resided since 2015. He was known to many as a retired assistant chief of the Rochester Police Department.

Lee was born here to Logan and Hattie (Marshall) Graham, the second of their four children. He attended Rochester High School and Rochester Junior College where he played on the football team.  In 1941, shortly after joining the police force, he married Shirley Foley and they made their home here. In 1943, he was drafted into the U. S. Army Air Corps to serve stateside as a gunnery instructor, putting to use the firearms skills he had been honing as a police officer. He returned to civilian life in 1946 and resumed his police career, rising steadily through the ranks to become an assistant chief before retiring in 1970 to pursue other interests.

His other interests included a new career in the insurance industry as well as ventures into various other business opportunities, because they interested him and because he always wanted to challenge himself to master new skills.

His quiet passion for mastery gained him much success and satisfaction in his leisure time as well. An avid bridge player, he achieved the status of Life Master and was a regular participant in local duplicate bridge competition. After joining the Sertoma 700 Club as a charter member, he went on to win top honors regularly in membership drives, Easter lily sales and checkers tournaments.  He joined Senior Citizens and grabbed every chance to raise money to ensure its continued operation, becoming a driving force behind the establishment of the Rochesterfest Hole-in-One contest to benefit the senior organization.

In childhood Lee learned from his father to enjoy hunting, and he continued that hobby until his early 90’s. It provided him some great adventures in Montana, Colorado, Wyoming and Arizona as well as Minnesota. He also enjoyed fishing, golf, softball, pontoon rides and photography. Some of his happiest times were spent at the Mississippi River, first at Sand Prairie and later at the Point in Lake City.

A dedicated and generous parent and grandparent, he kept his family always at the center of his existence and they felt proud to have him as a role model. They learned from him how to live with integrity, honesty, self-discipline and a determination to strive for goals. They learned to let their actions be guided by the Golden Rule and to practice kindness consistently. To borrow a quote from American writer C. B. Kelland, “(He) didn’t tell us how to live; he lived and let us watch him do it.”

Throughout his life Lee’s modest, pleasant manner and positive outlook helped him to form many lasting friendships which he treasured. His most treasured relationship was with Shirley, his wife of 75 years whose passing in 2016 cast a subtle shadow over the rest of his days. He also was preceded in death by brothers Logan Maxwell, Jr. (Max) and Joseph.

He will be greatly missed by his friends and especially by the family he leaves behind. They include two daughters, Diane (Bill Weir) of Woodbury and Sue of Rochester; a son, Jerry (Bobbie) of Fifty Lakes; eight grandchildren, Ryan Kulovitz, Lori Lawler Still, Brian Donlinger, Kate Lawler, Ravuth Graham, Dan Lawler, Jeremy Graham and Mallory Graham Arthun; 12 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Margaret Eddy of Clive, Iowa.

They extend their gratitude to Mayo Hospice for their compassionate care and support in Lee’s final weeks and to the staff and residents of Madonna Towers for their kindness and friendship.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on June 1, 2018, at Madonna Towers Chapel with Rev. Donald Schmitz officiating. There will be visitation for one hour before the funeral.  Lunch will be served in the Madonna Towers dining room following Mass. Private burial will take place at a later date.

Memorial gifts may be directed to 125 Live (formerly Senior Citizens Services, Inc.), to Mayo Clinic Hospice Program, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.