Laura Susanna (Pehlke) Lee

Laura Susanna (Pehlke) Lee, 106, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 17, 2024, at Howard Young Medical Center.

Laura was born on February 7, 1918, to Albert Max and Anna Marie (Postler) Pehlke, in the town of Argonne, near Crandon. She started life as a three pound baby. She kept warm in a padded box on the family farm’s oven door in the winter of 1918. She grew up with nine brothers, two brothers were born in Montana and the rest were born in Wisconsin. 

At the age of 18, Laura left home and moved to Minocqua for employment. It was there that she met the love of her life, Loren Lee. They were married on October 15, 1938. They were blessed with five children; sons Leland, Lawrence, Ronald and daughters Lila and Barbara.

Laura’s journey in life was action packed. She loved golf and at the age of 90, she was the oldest golfer at Trout Lake. Pictures were featured in The Lakeland Times. She was proud to have had a hole in one while spending the winter in Green Valley, Ariz. and had an eagle at Pinewood. After she turned 100, she played for free. 

Laura’s travel included a cruise to the Bahamas with her daughter Barbara. Since Barbara was a pilot, she flew Laura several times from Minocqua to Minnesota for family visits. She also enjoyed a camping trip to Gogebic State Park in Michigan with her son Ron, his wife Shirley and granddaughters. Continuing Laura’s desire for travel and adventure, she enjoyed Hawaii, Yellowstone and Grand Canyon National Parks as well as The House on the Rock which is located in Wisconsin. Laura and a group from Minocqua traveled through the Canadian Rockies by train and enjoyed boat rides on rivers and hikes to see large waterfalls. 

Laura’s kindness showed in many ways. To share a pie or cookies or crafts that she made for friends, relatives, and people in need, was her way of living. Her bible was her friend and she always shared her love for others.

Laura is survived by her daughter-in-law Shirley Lee, grandchildren; Darrell Young, Melissa Hicks, Tom Krell, Rob Krell and Todd Krell, great-grandchildren, sister-in-laws; Jane Pehlke of Green Bay and Lucille Pehlke of Merrill, as well as nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Loren Lee, daughters Lila Young and Barbara Krell, sons Leland, Lawrence, and Ronald, granddaughter Valerie Jain, parents Albert and Anna Pehlke and nine brothers; Rueben, Norman, Milton, Arnold, Gordon, Orie, Gilbert, Arlie and Leonard as well as a half-sister Frances and son-in-laws Raymond Young and Robert Krell.

Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 23, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Minocqua, followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. Bolger Funeral Home is assisting the family, www.bolgerfuneral.com for condolences.