Thomas Conrad Lee passed away peacefully on Oct 17, 2024, at the age of 83. Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Mary Jo (Laughlin), sons Joseph (Ashley), Jeffrey (Kathryn), Jason (Misty), and daughter Julie (Robert). He was grandfather to Kaelan, Peyton, Aidan, Isabella, Beckett, Brady, Grayson, Harper, Isley, Griffin, Baylan, Austin and Adler. Nothing made Tom happier than time spent with his wonderful family.
Tom was born on July 16, 1941 in Volga, South Dakota to Everett and Monica Lee. He was a loving brother of Joseph Lee (Susan), Mary Jeanne (late Terence) Bolger, and Rose Ann (Steve) Van Acker, and brother in law of Kolleen (Tom) Lyons. He was also a proud uncle of Thomas, Michael, Kieran, Meghan, Meredith, James, Declan, and Daniel.
Tom grew up in Bruce, South Dakota, and was raised in Springfield and Rock Island, Illinois. He attended Sacred Heart Elementary and Alleman Catholic High School. He continued in faith at Marquette University, where he met his lifetime love Mary Jo Laughlin. Tom was a proud and active member of Sigma Phi Delta fraternity. In 1963, Tom graduated having earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.
Tom started his career as an engineer in California and Wisconsin, then moved to Davenport, Iowa with Mary Jo to start a family. In 1973, they moved to Arlington Heights, Illinois as Tom ventured into his own engineering sales business, which he grew successfully over the next 45 years. This entrepreneurial courage inspired his family to pursue similar risk-reward endeavors in years to come.
Fiercely proud of his kids in every facet of life, Tom was fanatically involved in all of their extra-curricular activities. He coached numerous teams in basketball, football, and baseball. After their kids grew up, Tom stepped back in to follow his grandkids with the same spirited fever. When not watching kids play, you could often find (and hear) him cheering on his favorite Cubs, Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks teams, in addition to his beloved Marquette Warriors.
After developing a proclivity for golf from his father Everett, Tom continued as an adult and years later this passion led his boys to fall in love with the game. The boys and Tom would travel on countless golf excursions over decades to come, with fondest memories to include Ireland, Bandon Dunes, and Hueston Woods, Ohio.
Tom was his happiest self in a boat on the lake with family and friends. His passion for boating started as a young boy with his father and mother on the Mississippi River. This blossomed as he raised his kids around a love of boating and lake living, which remains a prominent feature of all Lee family life today.
With a remarkably quick wit and sharp sense of humor, Tom was quite a happy presence in any crowd. His family and close friends often described him as intelligent, proud, honest, and trustworthy. Tom was a powerful, loving influence and will be sorely missed.
Visitation will be Tuesday, October 22, 2024 from 4pm to 8pm at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. Visitation will also be Wednesday, October 23, 2024 from 10am until time of funeral mass at 11am at Our Lady of the Wayside Church, 434 West Park Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or Angels Grace Hospice.
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