Lee, Stephen J. May 1, 1951 - February 28, 2021

I die after a full life with a grateful heart. This is a love letter to the future.

Wife Deborah Gramling (Circle Pines, Richfield, Edina). Son Matthew Lee (Apple Valley, Carly Eichhorst) born 1979. Son Benjamin Lee (Vashon Island Washington, Jennifer Salisbury) born 1982. I met Debbie on the Friday before Thanksgiving November 18, 1994 at the old Blues Saloon in St. Paul. Shining under the exit sign. Code-named "Derailment." So lucky to have met and loved you. Who, besides Debbie, knows me better than myself?

I'm a lucky descendant of Irish, Dutch and Danish forbears braving the sea. Thomas and Julia, Tjerk and Fenna and Auktje, Mads and Marie, Johannes and Dagmar. Did they flee the homeland or come for opportunity? Immigrants making America the beacon of opportunity and freedom in the world. Mother Ruth Nielsen Lee from Racine, Wisconsin. Father Charles Benjamin Lee from Seattle. Mother Ruth always there showering love. Swinging a golf club on the course or at the hard guys who had chased me and Jimmy up a tree. Father Charlie, always calm and unjudgmental, never an unkind word or deed.

I was the middle child between Charles Francis Lee now of Roseburg Oregon (Susan Tanabe) and Patricia Marcroft now of Blaine (Robert). I was born in Racine, Wisconsin to a raft of cousins. What fun we had. We moved to New York, Maine, then Minnetonka by third grade. Hopkins schools. Favorite teachers Gary Murtinger, Mrs. Cornell, Louis Benson. All Conference football but never touched a ball. Middling wrestler but got to watch the Hopkins state champions from close up.

Jimmy, Jimmy: As you say, you made me what I am today. No, I mean what I was a couple of days ago. What adventures we had mocking the hard guys and infuriating your mother. Who could have seen you would become the man you are today?

Gustavus Adolphus College. Learned to really read and write. Science and poetry. Ducks and geese on the Hamrum and Kendall animal behavior research farm. Brain surgery on bullfrogs. Second slowest half-miler in the MIAC. Bus trips to the Yucatan before Cancun was even a dot on a map. Saw Mayan hunters on the Indian class bus with shotgun and a spotted jungle cat. Talked (gestured) with Mayan families in wattle huts. Arrested in Merida on suspicion of being a hippy. On later trips losing Mattie on the Mexico City subway and climbing Tikal with Bennie.

Met and married Linda Graupner (now Peterson), first love. Touring Europe by Moped. Great mother to my two boys. Thank you. Taught 2 years Watertown Mn High School biology. Lots of fun except for the damn students. I was let go after the notorious monkey incident. We lived in Columbia Heights, and then Circle Pines in 1982. Beautiful Golden Lake. Became an area historian and story-teller. My father taught me how to be a thoughtful and kind man. I think that passed on to our two boys.

Columbia Heights Fire Department (9 years) guys showed me how to work together and be brave men. I had one pure life-save, a man I pulled through third floor window of an apartment building in which three others died. Centennial FD (20 years) taught me to love this area and how to air-walk back into the crew cab after dangling over a swamp from the open door like a bug on a pin. I saw several horrible things but all-told I was privileged to put out fires or to help hurt or scared people about 5,000 times.

I started working at Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in 1978 as a student worker. I ended up 37 years later as the old fart welcoming and challenging employees into their new wonderful careers saving the world. I helped start Mn Superfund, the Hazardous Waste Strike Force, discovered or worked many major toxic dumps including Ironwood, TCAAP, FMC, ISCC. Helped start the household hazardous waste program, the LUST program and the emergency response program. I wrote the 115E Spill Bill chapter of Minnesota law. Helped Kevin launch NRDA program. Spills staff worked many long interesting nights and days on train wrecks, pipeline breaks, piddly and big spills, drills and training with partners. They were helping Minnesota's industries clean up their messes. Preparing for the worst- terror and disaster debris. I loved working with Dorene and legendary Dick Kable and all the spills guys and gals.

Sons. What wonderful men. What teachers of their kids. Matthew Stephen Lee now of Apple Valley and Benjamin David Lee now of Vashon Island, Washington. A librarian and a scientist. Who could ask for a better legacy? Many trips, especially BWCA, Mexico, and out west. Many many soccer and hockey games. Occasional worry. My wonderful daughters-in-law. Carly Eichhorst and Jennifer Salisbury. Ruth would have had such fun with you.

Pearls from Heaven grandchildren: Calder, Delilah, and Ruby. Kids, I have closed my eyes and seen you grow into your mid-20's. After that it's up to you. You're going to be smart and funny and confident and competent people; like the wonderful kids you are today. I'll be watching and encouraging.

Deborah Ann Gramling and I married after eight years of wooing. We were married the Saturday after Thanksgiving 2002 in a courtroom and trouped to the Irish bar- the funnest day ever. Gramling in-laws. Virginia the Energizer Bunny mother-in-law. Paula Hanson, Deb's daily counselor and a great traveling friend. Paula, after a bit take your sister off on happy hours and travel to Europe. Please. John Gramling, get that Vette. Nephews Mark and Mike, wonderful family trips to national parks. Consider making some babies.

What an interesting group of nieces and nephews from my sister and brother. Ruth’s Rainbow. Each making the world a better place.

Ole and Murphy.

I loved history. I got to write the history of Circle Pines in a book and onto an obelisk. I wrote 2 (maybe 3) Minnesota History magazine articles on river and pollution history. I got to help the Historical Society guides at Fort Snelling and the Capitol. I’ve had the opportunity of helpingEnglish Language Learner teachers and students. The courageous immigrants and refugees from around the world will make this country better and kinder.

Neighbors. All the wonderful friends and neighbors around Golden Lake. Thanks Bill for being ready for a beer and for bending that first board on the Peapod. Eva, thanks for putting up with Bill and providing the lake view. Dave and Nancy, thanks for the London and Whitby adventure and long lazy happy hours and modeling how to be good people.

The small cell lung cancer diagnosis came as a surprise. The prognosis (not curable) was an opportunity to think, thank, and remember. When others were worried and anxious in the summer of 2020 Debbie and I got to know and love each other even more deeply. So many memories. On my part no fear, no anxiety, but sometimes deep sadness at leaving you too soon.

Appreciation to Dr. Feng, nurse Magee, Dr. Dudek, all the Regions Hospital infusion nurses, Dr Shideman, and St. Croix Hospice.

Modified green burial has occurred at Groveland Cemetery, Minnetonka. My molecules released back to the Universe from whence they came.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in my name to A Breath of Hope or charity of your choice.

Love to you all, Steve

Published on March 7, 2021