Lee Allen Stensaker

Lee Allen Stensaker was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Leroy Oscar Stensaker and Sylvia VanDerAue. He graduated from Sterling Morton High School in Cicero in 1954. After studying Russian at the Army Language School in Monterey, California, he served in Europe and was honorably discharged in 1962.

Returning to Cicero, Lee met Anita Louise Kiederlen. They married and had two daughters, Andrea Lee (1964) and Amy Lynn (1965). Lee worked at Signode Corporation in product development and quality control, authored two successful patents and rose to head of Quality Control. The family resided in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. While still at Signode, Lee earned his MBA from the University of Chicago in 1979.

The family then relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee, where Lee founded and later sold Prime Technologies. Lee was a chess master, musician, artist, poet, and dancer who loved nature, yard work, bonfires, and tinkering in his garage.

In 2021 he moved to Austin, Texas, to be near family. He spent five years in independent living, continuing to dance, create pottery, play cards and games, stay active, and enjoy time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Perhaps his most memorable character trait was his prolific sense of humor. He made us laugh to the very end.

Lee passed away on October 25, 2026. Lee is preceded in death by his wife Anita (2010) and granddaughter Melissa Kieffer (2019). He is survived by his daughters Andrea Kieffer (husband John) and Amy Strickland (husband Bill); grandchildren Matthew Kieffer (wife Hilary), Casey Shaver (husband Heath), Tegan Strickland, and Rachel Strickland; and great-grandchildren Lillian and Wyatt Kieffer.

A small Happy Hour toast will be held at his place of residence in Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations to UMDF Kieffer Family Impact page, would be greatly appreciated.