Donald “Don” G. Lee, 80, of rural Clarksville, Iowa and formerly of Washburn, Iowa, died at his home on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 of lung cancer and dementia.

He was born December 25, 1937, at Camp, Arkansas, the son of Elzie Sr. and Viola Cochran Lee. His mother died when he was 2 years old and Don was raised by Ruby (Robbins) Lee, his father’s second wife and whom he thought of as his mother.

He graduated from La Porte City High School in 1956. Don served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and was an expert rifleman.

He married Joan Drilling Beatty on July 3, 1964, in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Don worked at Clean Towel, Hostess Cupcake, and Orkin Pest Control and then worked at John Deere & Co for 30 years, retiring in 1997. After retirement he worked for Ryan Exterminating until April 2017.

He had been a member of UAW Local 838. He very much enjoyed living out in the country and that he had no neighbors within a mile of his property on either side. He also liked hunting especially bowhunting for deer.

Don is survived by his wife; a daughter, Diane (Steven) Hostetler of Waterloo; two sons, Jeffrey (Sue) Lee of Wisconsin and Curtis (Vawn Greany) Lee of Washington; nine grandchildren: Robert (Stacy) Hostetler, Rebecca (Jace) Miller, Brian (Malinda) Hostetler, Elisabeth Soliz, Jesse (Aubrey) Lee, Jared (Sarah) Jacob, David Mikulsky, Nathan Mikulsky and Mitchel Mikulsky; eight great-grandchildren: Jaxon, Kate, Allyson, Jake, Andrew, Bowen, Emily and Michael; a brother, Elzie Jr. (Linda) Lee of La Porte City; and a sister, Shirley (Jerry) Tompkins of La Porte City.

He is preceded in death by his parents and Ruby; brothers, Lindy Lee and Gene Lee; and a sister, Joan Bruce.