Leroy John Lerchen Jr.

Leroy “Lee” John Lerchen Jr passed away in Gilbert, Arizona on January 10. Lee was born on April 5th, 1939 in New Lennox, Illinois to Dorothy and Leroy. Lee was the consummate older brother to his siblings Ronnie, Alana and Mary Pat.

Lee was very independent, even at an early age, and he shared stories later in his life about going camping by himself at the age of 10.

Lee constantly strived to make a better life for himself and those he loved. He joined the Air Force because he loved flying and he thought it would be a great way to pay for college. While in the Air Force, Lee was assigned to the hospital where he learned how to suture, among many other skills. Whenever women or children would come in for care, he would offer to do the suturing because he wanted to make sure it was done right so it would not leave any scarring.

After he was honorably discharged from the Air Force, he joined the Chicago Police Department.

One day, around 1980, he attended a supper club for people who were divorced –he was a single father at this point. He took the only empty seat available, next to a single mom named Billie, they fell into a conversation and, you could say that conversation never ended. They married on October 8th, 1983.

There was not much Lee liked better than to mentor and teach and he found a great pupil in his daughter Robin, who would learn how to ride a motorcycle, shoot and hunt from her father, among many other important life lessons.

When Lee was in his late 50’s and living in Florida, he was looking for a new challenge and found Karate. He enrolled in a local school and went on to earn his black belt. Lee became very involved with the school and even offered free classes to a nearby home for developmentally disabled children. That is just who Lee was!

After Lee and Billie moved to Arizona to be closer to her children, Lee joined the Freemasons and faithfully attended their meetings every Wednesday, 3 weeks out of each month.

Lee’s goal was to achieve the highest success in whatever endeavor he undertook, and he succeeded!

Lee is survived by his wife Billie, Daughter Robin, Stepchildren Steven, Scott and Laura, Grandchildren Connor, Cady, Cooper, Tucker, Hunter, Ryleigh, Max, Kristin, Jax, Great-grandchildren Adelyn and Allie as well as his siblings Ronnie, Alana and Mary Pat.

A memorial service for Leroy will be held Saturday, January 29, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Valley of the Sun Mortuary & Cemetery, 10940 East Chandler Heights Rd, Chandler, AZ 85248.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com for the LERCHEN family.