Richard "Rick" Lee

A Celebration of Rick's Life will be held on Friday, May 5, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Cross Community Church of the Nazarene, 5625 Oakland Dr., Portage. Friends may call on the family one hour prior to the service at the church, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Contributions in Rick's memory may be made to Centrica Care Navigators or Cross Community Church of the Nazarene, in c/o the funeral home
Age 75, was ushered into the arms of his Savior, on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Rick was born in Champaign, IL, on May 3, 1947, the son of Thurman and Dorothy (Barr) Lee. On August 15, 1970, he married his surviving spouse, Julie Dause, who he met at Olivet Nazarene College. Rick was a UPS package car driver for eight years in Urbana, IL. In 1983, he sensed a call to pastoral ministry and enrolled at the Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO, from which he graduated in 1987. He went on to pastor churches in Ohio, Michigan and Illinois. Later he was a Social Worker in the State of Arizona. Rick returned to Michigan for his final years of ministry in Kalamazoo, as a Hospice Chaplain for In-House Hospice and Grace Hospice, which he found to be the most rewarding time in his years of ministry. Rick proudly served his nation in the United States Air Force. He was an avid Chicago Cubs fan. He also cheered for the Chicago Bears and Fighting Illini. Rick and Julie enjoyed retired life until April 6, when a stroke resulting in two subarachnoid brain hemorrhages eventually took his life. Besides his wife, Rick is survived by his children, Brian (Kendra) Lee of Montgomery, IL, Jason (Emily) Lee of South Hero, VT; grandchildren, Abigail, Nathaniel, Aleksander; many nieces; and countless friends. Rick was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Larry Lee; sister, Beverly Miller.