EAST TROY - R. Leland Dix passed away at age 91 following complications of surgery Thursday, Dec. 19, 2002, at Lakeland Medical Center in Elkhorn.

He was born June 2, 1911, in Crawfordsville, Iowa, one of four sons of Ray and Myrtle Dix. He and his brothers served with distinction in World War II and all returned. His mother and father proudly displayed a banner with four stars on it in their window in his hometown of Cedar Falls, Iowa.

A graduate of Iowa State Teachers College, Lee was employed as a newspaper reporter, production manager and his last post was as a beloved office worker at Lovejoy & Co., Waukesha.

For the past five years he was a resident of Kiwanis Manor Home in East Troy where he moved with his critically ill wife, Frances (nee Gumm), following a heart attack and bypass surgery he, himself, had sustained. Roommates, Frances succumbed shortly thereafter at Kiwanis Manor on Nov. 8, 1997.

Lee will be greatly missed by the staff and his fellows at Kiwanis Manor where he served as resident council president, and especially by his replacement roommate, Frank, with whom he shared silence, reminiscences and telecast ball games. He was the recipient of much affection by the nurses and attendants who cared for him. His faithful lament was missing Frances, to whom he was married since 1944.

Lee was a member for more than 60 years of the Masonic Lodge No. 37, and also belonged to the Tripoli Shrine, Knights of Pythias, Elks, Veterans of Foreign Wars, was past commander of D.J. Martin American Legion post and for many years belonged with his wife to the LOBS club (Last of the Big-time Spenders), a regular social gathering of closely bound friends.

Lee is survived by his one remaining brother, Meredith (Margaret) of El Cerrito, Calif., and his nephew, David (Denise) Dix of Waukesha. He was great uncle to David Dix Jr. of Dousman, Laurie Dix Kari of Alaska and Erin Dix and his namesake, Leland (Lee) Dix, students at Waukesha South High School. He was also the uncle of Les Dix II, Jennifer Dix Hill, Elizabeth Dix Low, Douglas Dix, Mark Dix and Steven Dix.

The remains are to be cremated and placed next to Frances’ at Prairie Home Cemetery. There will be a private interment. A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 121 Wisconsin Ave., where Lee was a longtime former member and lay leader at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4.

Any memorials are to go to First United Methodist Church, 121 Wisconsin Ave., Waukesha, WI 53186, or to the Kiwanis Manor Social Fund, c/o Linda Burie, 3271 North St., East Troy, WI 53120.