Harold Neil Lee, 81

Harold Neil Lee, beloved husband, Dad, Papa, brother and friend to many, was born in Choteau, Mont., to Ruben and Euince (Walley) Lee on May 12, 1934. He passed away in an instant at home in Coeur d’Alene with his wife of 59 years, Shirley at his side on Nov 7, 2015.

Following graduation from Wallace High School in 1953, Harold served in the U.S. Army as an Infantryman for eight years, being awarded the Korean Service Medal and National Defense Service medal. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant.

He was in law enforcement for 29 years, with the Idaho State Police and Shoshone County Sheriff’s office and worked in the Silver Valley mines. Harold was a 56-year member of the Kootenai Masonic Lodge; the VFW Post 889 and a 48-year member of Elks.

Harold was a voracious reader, especially of history. His interests were wide and varied and he loved life and learning until his last breath. He was an avid outdoorsman, taking a buck with his muzzleloader just last fall. He and Shirley enjoyed horseback riding and watching wildlife at their home on the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River in Prichard. He was passionate about restoring antique cars and even now he had two unique vehicles in the works. Three of his beautiful granddaughters and their husbands drove away from their weddings in Papa’s perfectly restored ’52 Hudson. It is at the ready for his fourth and youngest lovely granddaughter and two grandsons.

Papa was a great cook. He relished the telling of a good recipe nearly as much as the meal itself. He loved to laugh, tease and pull a prank. He was the most tender, kind, funny and toughest man that ever walked beside and through our lives. His strength of character lives on deep in our hearts always.

He is survived by his beloved bride, Shirley (Wannschaff) Lee, married Dec. 9, 1956, in Pinehurst, Idaho; his daughter, Michele Unsworth (James); son Shane Lee (Julie); his grandchildren, Journee Davis (Micah), Lucas Ziegler, Brianna Wilkening (TR), Jessica Draper (Barron), Sage Unsworth, Sophia Lee and Brittany Broadhead; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Monte Neil Lee; parents Ruben and Euince Lee; and brother Oliver Lee.

“Be prepared to meet death not as a grim tyrant but as a kind messenger sent to translate us from this imperfect to that all-perfect…”

A service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, at English Funeral Chapel, 1133 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Coeur d’Alene VFW Post 889, 406 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.

Please visit Harold’s online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.