Obituary of Robert S. Lee

Robert S. “Bob” Lee, 86 of 701 Oaknoll Drive, Iowa City died Sunday, December 31, 2006, at the Oaknoll Retirement Residence in Iowa City. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 3, 2007, Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City with the Reverend Dr. Ed Morgan officiating, visitation will begin at 9:30am Wednesday. Burial with Military Honors and Bagpipes will be at the Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. Prior to the services at the cemetery there will be a luncheon held at the funeral home for family and friends.. Memorial Donations can be made in Bob’s memory to the First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City, Iowa City Hospice or the University of Iowa Foundation. Online condolences may be sent for his family through our website @www.gayandciha.com. Robert Sutherland Lee was born November 5, 1920, in Kansas City, MO the son of Willoughby Andrew Lee and Agnes (Sutherland) Lee. His family moved to Iowa City to the Dane Farm while he was in the fourth grade. Bob began his 50 year career in the newspaper business as a carrier for the Des Moines Register in 1932.While in high school he worked at Novotny Bicycle Shop and during college in the circulation office of the Iowa City Press-Citizen. He Graduated from Iowa City City High School in 1938, and received his BS degree in Commerce from the University of Iowa in 1942. In April of 1942 he was united in marriage to Dorothy Elizabeth Johnson. Later that year during WWII, he began a tour of duty with the United States Army, his first assignment was with the 31st. “Dixie Division of the United States Army during WWII. Following the war he maintained his military service by joining the reserves of the 410th Infantry Regimental Headquarters in Iowa City, retiring in 1962 with the rank of Lt. Colonel. Upon returning to Iowa City in 1946, he returned to circulation department of the Iowa City Press-Citizen. He became circulation manager in 1962. In 1966 he became the circulation manager of the Reno Evening Gazette and the Nevada State Journal. He held this position until becoming the publisher of the Fort Collins Coloradoan in 1971. He retired from here in 1982, and returned to Iowa City in 1990 due to his illness with Parkinson’s disease. Dorothy died March 28, 2002. While in college, Bob was a member of the University of Iowa Highlanders. Upon returning to Iowa City following the war, he was very active in civic and church activities. He was a member of the Iowa City Junior Chamber of Commerce serving as president in 1951. Elected to the Board of Directors for the Iowa City Chamber of Commerce from 1964 to 1966; had served as Chairman for the Iowa City Civil Service Commission, Past President of Business Development for the Chamber of Commerce. Active in the First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City where he served both as a deacon and elder. Professionally he was active in numerous organizations, including having served as President of the Northern States Circulation Manager’s Association. In Reno, Nevada and later in Fort Collins, Colorado he was also active in his profession, community, and church activities. Bob’s family includes a son, David Lee and his wife, Connie of Mission Viejo, CA; brother, Willoughby A. Lee Jr. and his wife, Joyce of Spokane, WA; sister, Margaret Mahana of Carmel, IN; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Dorothy; half-brother, Donald Lee; and brother-in-law, Wayne Mahana. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City is caring for Bob’s family and his services.