Knowles is Melrose Valedictorian Robert E. Lee, son …

1 Lee, Robert Knowles is Melrose Valedictorian Valedictorian of the 1946 class of Melrose is Patrick Knowles , son of Michael Knowles . Robert E. Lee, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Lee is salutatorian. Commencement exercises were held Wednesday evening at Community hall. The Rev. Charles Mannhardt delivered the address. The class was presented by Sister Mary, superintendent and diplomas were awarded by Patrick Cronin, board of education president. Source: Monroe County News, May 27, 1946 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bob Lee, 73, of Knoxville died June 17, 2001, in his home due to cancer. He was born in Monroe County and reared in the Melrose area. An Army veteran, he moved to Knoxville in 1948. Surviving are his wife, Rita of Knoxville; five sons, Greg, Terry, Jimmy and Bobby of Knoxville and Bernard of Pleasant Hill; two daughters, Linda Stecker of Indianola and Lori Rookwood of Knoxville; four sisiters, Mary Jo Beary of Lovilia, Rose Ianni of College Park, Md.

2 , Fran Sheedy of Sycamore, Ill., and Margie Curran of Melrose ; 18 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Services will be 10 Wednesday, June 20, in St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Burial, with military honors, will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Albia. Visitation will begin after 10 today, Tuesday, in St. Anthony's Catholic Church with family present after 3 A scripture service will be held there at 6:30 and a rosary at 7 In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Exceptional Opportunities or Hospice of Central Iowa. Bybee & Davis Funeral Home of Knoxville is in charge of arrangements. Source: Ottumwa Courier, June 19, 2001 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Robert Eugene Lee, 73, of Knoxville, died Sunday, June 17, 2001, at his home. Funeral services were held Wed., June 20 at 10 at St. Anthony s Catholic Church in Knoxville, Rev. Tim Sheedy and Rev.

3 Mark P. Spring officiated. Burial was at St. Mary s Cemetery in Albia. He was born Sept. 27, 1927 in Monroe County, to Robert Joseph Lee and Marie Catherine (Sinnott) Lee. He married Rita Kosman on Nov. 21, 1953. He was raised in the Melrose area and graduated with the Melrose Class of 1946. Shortly after high school, Bob was inducted into the United States Army. He served two years in Japan before he was honorable discharged on Feb. 12, 1948. He returned to Iowa and moved to Knoxville where he went to work at the Medical Center. Bob and his wife have always made Knoxville their home. He worked in Medical Administration at the until his retirement in 1983. He loved sports, especially baseball and attending his children and grandchildren s activities as they were growing up. He was also an avid walker. Bob was best known as a good friend; in his retirement he was always willing to drive family and friends to their doctor appointments or anywhere else they needed to go.

4 He also sent out 40 to 50 birthday and anniversary cards per month to his family and friends. He was a member of St. Anthony s Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council No. 4167, the and the American Legion. He will be remembered as a kind and gentle husband, father, grandfather, and friend by all who knew him. Lee, Robert He is survived by his wife, Rita; his children, Greg, Terry and Jimmy all of Knoxville, Linda Stecker of Indianola, Bobby of Knoxville, Bernard of Pleasant Hill and Lori Rockwood of Knoxville; four sisters, Mary Jo Beary of Lovilia, Rose Ianni of College Park, Md., Fran Sheedy of Sycamore, Ill. and Margie of Melrose ; 18 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and many other family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Bernard. Memorials may be made to Exceptional Opportunities (the home of Amy Jo Lee) and Hospice of Central Iowa.

5 Bybee and Davis Funeral Home and Mason Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Source: Albia Newspapers, June, 2001