Obituary: Vera Clara Jeanette (Johr) Lee - Class of 1931

WATERTOWN [Wisconsin] - Vera Clara Jeanette (Johr) Lee, age 88, of Watertown, died Wednesday morning, Jan. 16, 2002, at Watertown Memorial Hospital. She was born July 30, 1913, in Merrill, Wis., the daughter of Otto and Selma (Grueneberg) Johr. She graduated from Madison Central High School, and went on to receive a bachelor's degree from UW-Whitewater in 1935. She married Donald Lee June 9, 1938, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Madison. Vera was employed as secretary to the superintendent of schools in West Chicago, Ill. She also had been a teacher at the Jefferson and Johnson Creek high schools. She was elected to Pi Omega Pi, an honorary fraternity, as well as Alpha Sigma sorority. She was a former member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Jefferson, and was recently a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Watertown. Survivors include two daughters, Sandra (Carl) Werth of Waterford, Mich., and Karen Fontaine of Miller Beach, Ind.; two sons, Tom (Mary) Lee of Martinez, Ga., and John (Berta) Lee of Glenview, Ill.; 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald, on Jan. 29, 1980; and her parents. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 18, 2002, at TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, Watertown. The Rev. James A. Mattek will officiate, with burial at Roselawn Memorial Park, Monona. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Friday at the church. Memorials, if desired, may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, Watertown, and Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind. Hafemeister Funeral Home, Watertown, is in charge of arrangements.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on January 17, 2002; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)

Note: Vera Clara Jeantter (Johr) Lee's graduation year is based on information in a June 5, 1931 article in the Wisconsin State Journal listing the Central High School graduates. She is listed as Jeanette Johr.