LEE, Donald A., age 81

Died: Tuesday, December 15th, 2015

Celebration of Life: 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 21, 2015 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Eau Claire with Pastor Kurt Jacobson officiating

Visitation: will be one hour prior to service at church

Interment: a private family burial will be held at a later date

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the charity of the donor's choosing or to the family that will be given in memory of Donald at a later date

Donald A. Lee, age 81, of Eau Claire went to his Heavenly home on Tuesday, December 15, 2015. He was born on July 26, 1934 to the late Simen and Alice (Holte) Lee in Dunn County. Don grew up on the family farm graduating from Colfax High School. He proudly served our country in the U.S. Army from 1954-56. On December 20, 1958, he married Barbara Haug at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Sand Creek.

Using his GI Bill, Don attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire receiving his B.S. Degree in 1960 and his Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1963. Throughout his life he worked for the State of Wisconsin in probation and parole, the Northwest Psychiatric Clinic, and the Eau Claire Academy, before starting the Eau Claire Psychiatric Clinic. He then purchased the Brotoloc Health Care System working there until his retirement.

Don was a member of and past president of both the Wisconsin Society for Clinical Social Work and the Wisconsin Association for Residential Facilities as well as member of the Eau Claire Police and Fire Commission. Church life was important to Don having been an active member of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepard before joining Trinity Lutheran Church.

Both Don and Barb loved to travel visiting over 52 countries throughout the world. He was a master woodworker making furniture and loved the time spent at the cabin in Holcombe with family and friends.

Don is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara; son, Mark (Julie) Lee of Menomonie; daughter, Dana (James) Schroeder of Eau Claire; grandchildren, Robert (Ali), Erika, Alex (Ella), Mila and Luke Schroeder and Jasmine and Jordan Lee; great grandchildren, Estrella and Nora; sisters-in-law, Carol Lee of Colfax and Betty Lee of Glenwood City; many other family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by grandson, Grant Schroeder; sister, Gladys (Hjalmer) Johnson and brothers, Selvin and Orland.