Timothy Eugene Lee
March 19, 1955 – July 7, 2013
With disbelief and heartbreak we announce the passing of Timothy Lee. Tim was born in Outlook, SK, to Elmer and Amy Lee, the youngest of five. In 1976 he married Karen Reinhardt; they soon added 4 children to the family – Rollen, Logan, Ehren and Heidi. His family was a source of immense pride and joy, and with his wit, playfulness, and endless energy, he played, worked, chauffeured, camped and parented. He delighted in watching his children mature, pursue careers, marry and begin families of their own. How he loved his grandchildren! He worked hard to provide for his family: In the summer of 1974, he entered training at the RCMP Training Depot in Regina, SK., graduating in 1975 to postings in Pincher Creek and Medicine Hat, AB. In 1978 he requested an honorable discharge, and moved to Saskatoon and finally to Vernon, BC. He took great delight in his eventual work in reforestation, serving as Manager of the Vernon Seed Orchard Company until his death, and also on various provincial committees.
His abiding faith in God, shaped and formulated from birth, was paramount through all of his days; he was always active in his church. Music played a big part, whether listening or singing. In grade 12, he sang his one and only solo role as Captain Corcoran in HMS Pinafore. His enthusiasm extended to the barbecue, for backyard groups of 30 – 40. He finally had time to golf, a sport first enjoyed with his brothers in Saskatchewan. Travel became more and more frequent, whether on business trips to Europe, Asia, or New Zealand, and holidays to sunny and warm places.
Left to mourn are his wife, Karen, and children Rollen (Jenny), Logan (Deborah), Ehren (Kaela) and Heidi (Gordon), and grandchildren Sebastian, James, Luke, Grayson, Kysen, and Henry. His passing is also mourned by his brothers and sisters: Carol (George) Mooney, Sharon, Victor (Linda) and Robert (Barbara), and Karen’s family Janice (Joe) Mezynski, Cliff (Lorraine) Reinhardt, and Annette (Greg) Harvey, nephews, nieces, and extended family and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, Elmer and Amy Lee, brother-in-law Roger Williams, and Karen’s parents Friedrich and Erna Reinhardt.
A celebration of Tim’s life will be held on Saturday, July 13, at 2 pm at Peace Lutheran, 1204 30 Avenue, Vernon, V1T 1Z5. Memorial donations may be made to the BC Children’s Hospital (bcchf.ca, Tribute pages), or Peace Lutheran Memorial Fund.
His warm and generous smile, twinkling brown eyes, patience, and positive outlook were just a part of who he was. He adored his wife, children and grandchildren, who always came first. That mighty heart, so full of love, simply stopped beating. We cannot imagine life without him. He left us far too soon.