Lee Colsch

Lee F. Colsch, 67, of Waukon, IA, died Monday, July 11, 2022, at Grand River Medical Group in Dubuque, IA. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 16th, at 10:30 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. John Moser and Msgr. Jim Miller officiating. Burial will be at St. John The Baptist -- West Ridge Cemetery in rural Waukon. Friends may greet the family from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Friday at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a 3:30 PM scripture service. Friends may also greet the family at St. Patrick Catholic Church on Saturday from 9:30 AM until time of services.

Lee Francis Colsch was born April 24, 1955, in Waukon, IA, to Harold Francis and Shirley Ann (Mauss) Colsch. He grew up on West Ridge along with four brothers and eight sisters. Lee attended Union Prairie #2 country school until it closed in 1967, then attended St. Patrick School for a year before transferring to Waukon Junior High. He participated in 4-H, FFA, wrestling, student council, and the National Honor Society during junior high and high school. As Senior Class President during the 1972-73 school year, Lee worked with school administrators and several of his close friends to design and create the first "Burning of the W", a tradition that continues to be held at Waukon Senior High prior to homecoming each year.

In May 1975, Lee graduated with honors from Area 1 Vocational-Technical School, where he had completed a two-year course in farm implement mechanics. He worked as a mechanic at Burg Implement in Waukon before choosing to pursue a career in farming. As a young man, he also enjoyed various jobs including a stint pumping gas at Mark Mauss Texaco, working as an oilfield roughneck and roustabout in Wyoming, carpentry work with Pat Liddiard, farm work with Joe Jenkins, and working for the Decorah Sales Commission.

Lee's hobbies included playing softball, playing cards, tinkering with farm machinery, spending time outdoors, and fixing all things mechanical. He often spent hours each day reading newspapers and books. Lee thoroughly enjoyed friendly conversations that involved deep thoughts about social issues, science, politics, and/or history.

On October 26, 1996, Lee married Helen Marie Schulte. They divorced in 1999. As the years went by, he became affectionately known to his extended family as "Uncle Lee."  In addition to 37 nieces and nephews, Lee is survived by his parents and 10 siblings:  Jay (Patricia) Colsch, Karen (Mike) Whalen, Michael (Karen) Colsch, Keith Colsch, Mary Beth (Karle) Wigginton, Cheryl (Kevan) Forest, Kathleen (Nathan) Block, Chris (Ken) Frana, Nichole (Michael) Elsbernd, and Jennifer Shabani.

Lee was preceded in death by his brother Greg Colsch (1980); his sister Bonita Colsch (1982); and his niece Kaitlyn Fuhrman (1995).

Honorary casketbearers are Lee's nieces & nephews. Casketbearers are Daniel Colsch, Nickolas Colsch, Greg Whalen, Brandon Frana, Carter Fuhrman, Aaron Forest, Ethan Elsbernd, and Tyler Block.