Lee Arhelger

Lee Arhelger, 77, succumbed to Myelodysplasia Syndrome (MDS), a blood cancer, on December 16, 2025, in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Lee was a gentle soul and a lifelong vegetarian whose tenacity and stubbornness were no longer enough to sustain him.

His two sisters trust that if you knew him, you loved him, and dismissed his innocent quirks and foibles with a smiling “Oh, that’s just Lee.” In his last week Lee even said, “If you didn’t know me, you would not pick me for a friend.” We are amazed at the outpouring of love from the large number that did count Lee as a friend and shared heartfelt stories about how helpful and kind he was. Among these are the Wisconsin Go Hiking Club; Mensa, where he was a volunteer, proctor, and host of a monthly games night; and a computer club whose origins predate the Commodore and Apple PC eras.

We would like to thank the medical teams at the Froedtert Clinical Cancer Center and Grace Clinic, and the countless unknown blood and platelet donors who helped sustain Lee.

Memorial donations may be made to the Ice Age Trail Alliance, https://www.iceagetrail.org/tribute/.

Please share your memories of Lee below. He always was a private person, so we love to hear his friends’ stories about him.