Kathleen Lee, 77, Owatonna

Kathleen J. Lee, 77, of Owatonna, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, at Birchwood Cottages in Owatonna.

Kathy was born to J. Armand and Angeline Vernon on May 26, 1947, in Kasota. She attended high school in St. Peter, and then went on to attend Mankato Commercial College in secretarial studies.

She joyfully married Richard Lee on Sept. 7, 1968, at First Presbyterian Church in Kasota, and they raised three children together: Mike, Shelly and Chris.

Kathy had a lifelong love of music. She played both piano and organ in her youth, sang in choir and was an Arian award winner in high school. She enjoyed a long and prosperous career at Jostens in Owatonna for over 40 years and made many cherished friends there. Kathy loved to garden, sew, crochet, volunteer at church, shop and go snowmobiling and fishing with husband Dick and family. She loved sharing her home and time with those she loved, and she was a loving and dedicated grandmother.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 57 years, Richard Lee; children Mike Lee (Tiffany), Shelly Loberg and Chris Lee; grandchildren Aaron and Anna Lee, Dane and Evan Loberg, and Rosie and Ivar Lee; step-grandchildren Bryce and Brady Rowe; sister Betty Nechanicky; brother-in-law Tony Nechanicky; niece Sue Nechanicky; nephew Dan Nechanicky; and many loving friends. She will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Armand and Angeline Vernon and grandson Nathan Lee.

Visitation will be at Brick-Meger Funeral Home, 1603 Austin Road, Owatonna, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, from 4-7 p.m. A Celebration of Life for Kathy will take place on Feb. 27, 2025, at Associated Church, 800 Havana Road, Owatonna, at 11 a.m. with a visitation beforehand at 10 a.m. Burial will immediately follow at Forest Hill Cemetery, and afterwards, a luncheon at Associated Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Mission MSA, a non-profit devoted to improving quality of life and building hope for people affected by multiple system atrophy (MSA). https://donate.missionmsa.org/give/562187/#!/donation/checkout For more information or to leave an online message of condolence, go to www.megercares.com.