By Staff
Charles C. "Charlie" Lee, 73, of East Victoria Drive, South bend, Ind.,, and formerly of U.S.-12 East, Niles, died at 3:23 p.m. Friday, June 20, 2008, at Nephrology Inc., South Bend, Ind., of an extended illness.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 25, at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Jeffrey L. Whittaker of Michigan Christian Assembly, Niles, officiating.
Full military honors, provided by the American Legion Post No. 51, Buchanan, will follow at the funeral home.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. There will be a Masonic Service, provided by St. Peter's Lodge No. 106, F. &A.M., Edwardsburg, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
He was born on Feb. 5, 1935, in Detroit, to Charles C. and Julia (Elck) Lee. He had lived in the Michiana area most of his lifetime.
He owned and operated LeMetrics Tool and Die Co., Niles. He also worked for many area tools and die shops over the years.
He graduated from Riley High School in South Bend, Ind. with the class of 1953 and later served his country in the U.S. Army.
He was a member and in 1977, the Paster Master of the St. Peter's Lodge No. 106, F. &A.M. in Edwardsburg. He was also a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite and a member of the Niles Shrine Club.
He enjoyed many years dressing up as Santa Claus and his wife as Mrs. Claus, for the children associated with the Shrine Club.
On May 28, 1961, in Mishawaka, Ind., he married Maryann J. (Hess) Lee who survives.
He is also survived by a daughter, Franci A. (Mark) Boveri of Granger, Ind.; a son, Fred C. (Tracy) Lee of Zionsville, Ind.; four grandchildren, Matt Boveri, Brittany and Jessica Lee and Madeline Boveri; a brother, Ralph E. Lee of Buchanan and sisters, Kay Jones of Darien, Ill. and Phyllis (Tony) Marietta, Ark.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner's Hospital for Children.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.