A Mass of Christian Burial for 85 year old Lee E Beem of Emmetsburg, Iowa will be Saturday October 21, 2023 at 10:30 A.M. at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Rev. Paul Kelly will be the Celebrant.
Inurnment will be in St John's Catholic Cemetery in Emmetsburg, Iowa.
Visitation will be Friday October 20, 2023 from 4:00-7:00 P.M. at Martin-Mattice Funeral Home in Emmetsburg, Iowa.
There will be a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 6:30 P.M. October 20, 2023 also at Martin-Mattice in Emmetsburg.
Lee E. Beem was born April 19, 1938, to Earnest Lee and Lois C. (Boyer) Beem in Hornick, Iowa. As a young boy, Lee’s family moved to Edgemont, South Dakota where he completed his education, graduating from Edgemont High School in 1956. He went on to attend Chadron State College in Nebraska, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1960. Lee began his teaching career in Potter, Nebraska then he moved to Ellsworth, Kansas in 1962.
While living in Ellsworth, Lee was united in marriage to Angeline “Angie” Donovan on June 3, 1963 in Morrowville, Kansas. They were blessed with four children. Lee and Angie remained in Kansas until moving to Emmetsburg in 1965.
Lee earned his Masters Degree from the University of South Dakota in 1965 and accepted a teaching position at Emmetsburg High School and at Emmetsburg Community College, where he taught Speech, English, Debate and Extracurricular Speech, until 1973. He then began selling insurance for the Knights of Columbus and continued up to 1983.
Lee was a talented glazier, specializing in stained glass projects as well as doing all types of glass repair. He owned and operated The Glass Shop in Emmetsburg from 1984 until his retirement in 2020. Lee’s creative artwork can be seen in countless homes, churches, and schools throughout the area. He loved to share his stained glass shamrocks with residents moving to Emmetsburg as well as those just visiting town. He gave away nearly 300 shamrocks each year since 1989. Lee was very generous to donate his artwork to fundraisers and benefits.
Lee was a devoted and faithful member of Holy Family Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He joined the Knights of Columbus in 1964, serving as past Grand Knight, District Deputy, First Chairman of Campaign for the Mentally Handicapped, past State Family member and 4th Degree past Navigator.
He was also an active member and served as president of the Chamber of Commerce, the Retail Bureau and the Palo Alto County Historical Society. He also served as the Palo Alto County Representative for Area 2-3 Regional Workforce Board, serving as president for many years. Lee was a charter member of the KEMB LP radio board. He was honored with the Governor’s Award for Volunteerism.
Lee’s is survived by his wife, Angie of Emmetsburg, Iowa; his children, Coleen Ruddy (Doug) of Emmetsburg, Iowa, Anna Peden (Chris) of Horizon City, Texas, Toni Hayes (James) of Hot Springs, South Dakota, and Earnest “Earnie” Beem (Sheila D’Angelo) of Simi Valley, California; his grandchildren and great grandchildren, John Ruddy (Sara) and their children, Finnegan and Fallon, Rachel Ruddy, Kelly Peden, James Hayes, Kayla and Angelina Beem; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Lawana Beem, Joyce Donovan, Caroline Applegarth, and Helen and Randy Duncan.
Lee was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Donald Beem; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Anthony and Geneva Donovan; and brother-in-law, Elmer Applegarth.
Arrangements by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home
martinmatticefuneralhome.com
