Mary Louise Lee, was born on October 12, 1928 on Grandpa Gabriel Ormson’s farm in the township of Fountain, Wisconsin and left us to be with the Lord on May 29, 2026, at the age of 97 years old. She was Baptized in 1928 and confirmed in 1942 at East Lemonweir Lutheran Church in New Lisbon, Wisconsin.
Mary was the youngest daughter of John Conrad and Mabel Ormson. Mary excelled in school and helped her parents on the family farm. She was affectionately nicknamed “Toots” by her father and that name stuck with her for her entire life.
She met and married her high school sweetheart, Robert E Lee, in the middle of a Wisconsin winter blizzard, thus beginning a great adventure together in 1947. She was 19 years old.
Mary furthered her education and received her Teaching Certificate and began teaching first grade at Brighton Elementary School. Mary loved teaching and continued to do so, as well as, further her education. She attended the University of Wisconsin at White Water, and obtained her Bachelor’s degree in education, while working full time, raising three children, helped care for both set of parents, contributed to her community and her church, East Lemonweir Lutheran Church. She also taught in Yorkville, Wisconsin and was an Assistant Administrator.
After retirement, Mary and Bob allowed their Gypsy souls to take them throughout the United States. They traveled to areas in Wisconsin, Texas, Alaska, and Arizona, but their heart always brought them back to Arizona, eventually settling near Sunset, on a mini ranch. Mary enjoyed growing her rose garden, her collection of orchid plants and feeding the many types of songbirds and quail, adopting them as her own. Her hummingbird feeders were always full and she was delighted when they came to visit.
She had a brilliant creative mind, loved artwork and made beautiful hand beaded jewelry. After 52 years of marriage, her beloved went to be with the Lord, and Mary eventually came back to Wisconsin settling in Germantown to be near family and friends
Mary is survived by her Daughter, Christine Diane (Lee) McCallum and her husband Douglas Kenneth McCallum, Sons, John Robert Lee and his wife Joanna Marie (Buckley) Lee, and Ronald Eugene Lee and his wife Marian (Woodworth) Lee, and her sister-in-law Marian (Lee) Dickson, nieces Connie (Jerry) Wolfgram and Linda (Steve) Stapleton. She is also survived by her numerous grandchildren, relatives and friends.
Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Eugene Lee, her parents, John Conrad Ormson and Mable Aletta (Nelson) Ormson, sister Caroline Mae (Ormson) Lee and her husband Arthur Merril Lee, brother-in-law Gordon Lee and his wife Connie, her brother-in-law Allan Lee, and nephew, Roger Merrill Lee and his wife Julie, along with numerous relatives and friends.
The family wishes to express our sincere appreciation to the staff at The Gables at Germantown, for the care and assistance they provided for Mary.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to a charity of your choice that provides services to homeless veterans at Mary’s request.
Services will be held at Schmidt and Bartelt Funeral Home in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin on Wednesday June 10, 2026 beginning with a visitation at 10:30 AM and service to follow at 11:30 AM. Mary will be laid to rest on June 11, 2026 at the Mauston City Cemetery, Mauston , Wisconsin.
Arrangements made by Schmidt and Bartelt Funeral Home, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
