John B. Lee Jr.

John is preceded in death by his parents, John B. and Patricia A. Lee and a brother, Terry Wayne Lee.

Surviving is his wife, Pamela K. Lee, of Smithton, Illinois, daughter, Nicole (Fred) Koch Jr., (Smithton, IL), son, Jeffrey (Margaret) Lee of (Belleville, IL), sister, Debra (Stephen) Schwartz of Fairfield, Connecticut and five grandchildren.

John was a Steel Worker working with National Steel. Hobbies: Guitarist, Loved Cardinal Baseball

Graveside Service will be a private service held at Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, Illinois.

Memorials may be made to phassociation.org for research on Pulmonary Hypertension

Our journey started as two teenagers. We were young, naïve and in love. We grew up together.

Your twinkling blue eyes and charm first attracted me to you. Your honesty, integrity, sense of humor and genuine personality won my heart. Through our fifty-one-year journey you taught me so many things I would have never known had I not me you. Your love of nature taught me to appreciate the sights and sounds of the woods and all the glorious beauty of God’s creation.

I admired the ease with which you created songs on your guitar. Your music was part of your identity and a soothing escape for you when life got complicated. Sharing your musical gift with others gave you joy and affirmation. I will carry those beautiful melodies in my heart all the days of my life.

You may not know this, but in my eyes your greatest achievement was our children.

It was not an easy road raising a beautiful adventurous daughter and a handsome witty energetic son. When you look at the brilliant compassionate creative adults they became, you were an extremely proud dad. You held them in high esteem and loved them deeply. No father could cherish them more.

From our children came our beautiful grandchildren. You recognized their individual gifts and talents. Life kept you from being the grandpa you wanted to be, but you taught them without knowing it. Your strong will and positive attitude were examples for them to follow. The most valuable lessons you taught them are yet to come.

I will love and miss you every moment of every day for the rest of my life. The simplest private moments we shared are the ones I will hold closest to my heart. In my dreams I will continue to hold you in my arms and kiss you goodnight. I will feel your love and know you are as close as a prayer.