Glen Thomas Lee

1937 - 2025

Glen Thomas Lee

November 7, 1937 - August 8, 2025

MADISON - Glen Lee, age 87, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 8, 2025. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Sally; his daughters, Nadia (Sean Mallary) and Anna (Tim DiMenna); his sister, Janet Castle; sister-in-law, Mary Anne Sobek; and brother-in-law, Michael Castle; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Selma Lee; his brother, Earl Jr. (Edi); his sisters, Kathleen (Dick Warden), Tally (Larry Christenson), Virgina (Al Johnson) and Annabelle (Bud Burman); and his brothers-in-law, Leo Castle and Robert Sobek.

Glen grew up in Black Earth, Wis., and to the locals, he was known as "Tony Lee." After graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving eight years. His first tour of duty was on the USS FDR, where he worked in the engine room. He then transferred and was trained in nuclear power in Idaho. He was a plank owner on the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise. He was very proud of his service and enjoyed sharing stories about his time in the Navy.

After returning to Wisconsin in 1963, he worked at the University of Wisconsin for over 30 years, first at the Primate Center and then at the center of Limnology, where he built testing equipment and maintained the research boats. He loved being near and on the water. Upon retirement from the University, he worked as a lock tender at Tenney Locks, where he made every boat patron smile. After fully retiring, Glen tended to all the local squirrels and birds, making sure they were fed every day. He often went fishing, even enjoying ice fishing.

Glen was an active member of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, serving in several capacities, including ministry board, property committee, teaching Sunday school, serving on the food pantry board, and going on mission trips. He was also on the board of the Lutheran Campus Ministry. He was a great family man and a loving husband and father. He was most proud of his amazing daughters, Nadia and Anna. He welcomed their partners and thought of them as sons. He felt they couldn't have picked better partners for themselves.

Glen was an avid traveler with the love of his life, Sally, married for 52 years, often accompanied with Mary Anne and Bob Sobek. They traveled to all 50 states, several Canadian Provinces, much of Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. He always said if you get a chance to travel, take it. He was a proud Badgers fan, holding season tickets for basketball and football for over 57 years. He loved the Packers and was proud to be part owner. He became a Brewers fan when the team moved to Milwaukee. He loved to watch all of them, and you could pick his brain about any sports stats. He taught his wife to love sports and his teams, too.

Glen loved '34 Fords and owned his first one while in the Navy and another later in life; he loved to say, "drive fast and take chances," especially to his daughters. Glen had a great sense of humor, and he could light up a room. He got his first tattoo at the age of 82 of a stick figure mowing his hair where his bald spot had started and he loved to show it off to just about anyone. He said that moving to Monona was one of the best decisions he and Sally ever made, and he loved getting together with neighbors and friends.

A memorial service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, September 8, 2025. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 2 p.m. until the time of the service on Monday.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to St. Stephen's Lutheran Church or to the United Service Organizations (USO), P.O. Box 96860, Washington, D.C. 20077-7677, which is a charitable organization that responds to veterans' needs.

We would like to thank the staff at Oakwood and Agrace HospiceCare, who made the last transition of his life easier. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420