John William Lee Jr.

John's life began on May 26, 1940 on the White Mountain Apache reservation in Arizona. He was his parents' first child, and when the time had come, his excited father rushed 20 miles on a dirt road to the nearest hospital, ran into the waiting room announcing that his wife was having a baby, only to realize he had left her at home. A neighbor came to his mother's rescue, however, as John chose not to delay his entrance to the world.

His father ran a trading post and his mother had come to the reservation as a teacher. John attended grade school in a three-room schoolhouse in Whiteriver, where most of his classmates were Apache. In later life, John credited his productive work ethic and absolute integrity to the example of both his parents. His humble generosity was influenced by the Apache culture.

As a teenager, John spent summers working in the trading post, as a hod carrier for bricklayers, and as a cowboy on weekends and weeklong cattle drives. With no accredited high school nearby, John attended Wasatch Academy, a boarding school in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, where he developed close, lifelong friendships. He credited his teachers with making a profound impact on the direction and success of his career. Wasatch opened the broader world to him and he later returned to serve the school as a dedicated trustee and benefactor.

He received a BS in chemical engineering and an MS in environmental engineering from Arizona State University. After college, he served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and worked in the Athena missile testing program. After his military service, John went to work for CH2M Hill, at that time a small environmental engineering firm. He worked with the company for over 50 years in many roles from technologist to Senior Vice President, spearheading the development of solutions for industrial water pollution and hazardous waste control. He was still working as an Emeritus Consultant at the time of his passing. Three of his inventions were patented.

John traveled extensively in the U.S., Canada, Europe, South America and the Pacific Rim on project work and served 16 years on a U.S. Secretary of Commerce advisory committee for environmental goods and services trade policy and WTO negotiations support. He was in the Commerce Building in Washington DC on 9/11 when the World Trade Center towers were struck. In his profession he was forceful, determined, creative, and effective.

For many years John belonged to the Rotary Club and a men's discussion group, where he cultivated many close friends. Through Rotary, he developed and supported many international projects to improve the living conditions and education of rural communities in Latin America. His life was dedicated to service.

John was a lifelong member of the Lutheran church and a deeply spiritual man. Although committed to his faith and political ideals, he was contemplative and respectful of the ideas of others. He was also an adventurer who loved skiing, golf, fly-fishing, beaches and traveling the world with his wife Liz. John's generosity, love, and humor, as well as his strength of character and accomplishments, made him a strong and wonderful role model for many people.

John is survived by his wife Liz, daughters Lisa and Kim, grandchildren Evan, Emma and Jack, brother Don, many close cousins, nieces and nephews, and many, many friends.

Memorial Services will be held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 8501 SE 40th Street, Mercer Island on Saturday, July 27 at 2:00pm. They will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. In lieu of flowers, please consider charitable or blood donations to your local Blood Bank.