Lee DeWan, of Bass Lake, died Friday, July 8, 2011 at Langlade Hospital under the care of LeRoyer Hospice. He was 79 years old. He was born on July 30, 1931, a son of Leland and Wanda (Herman) DeWan. He married Ludene Wagner, his seventh grade sweetheart on October 30, 1954 at St. John Catholic Church in Antigo. She survives.
Lee was born in Milwaukee where he attended Holy Angels Elementary School. At age 11 he moved to Antigo, attended St. John Parochial School and was a member of their first freshman class. In 1950 he graduated from Antigo High School where he was active in athletics.
He served in the Wisconsin National Guard during the Korean War.
Lee signed with the Chicago White Sox where he raised to the triple A level as a center fielder. A severe leg injury cut his baseball career short. He told many interesting stories about his baseball experiences having played against such greats as Mickey Mantle and having roomed with Luis Aparicio, a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Lee returned to Antigo and worked for Jim Hoe at his Clothing Store followed by Artemis and Marie Berner at the Antigo Daily Journal and WATK radio station.
In 1965 Mr. DeWan joined the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. His success as an insurance representative qualified him for Leaders Conference annually. This also led to a promotion to the Branch Manager position in Wisconsin Rapids in 1970. While in Wisconsin Rapids he was a member of the Elks Club and active in St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church. He became a supporter of EWTN, a Catholic television network, since its inception.
After retirement Lee and Ludene built a home on Bass Lake. He was a member of the Msgr. Conrad Saile Knights of Columbus Council 1002-Antigo, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Antigo and the Bass Lake Country Club.
His love of sports led to a 54 year career of refereeing basketball, football and volleyball games.
Survivors including his wife are a son Michael DeWan (Lora Keller), Milwaukee; a daughter Laura (Cliff) Jacobsen, Lawrence, Kansas;
four grandsons Jamie Beckland (Michael Pope), Ryan (Lissa) Beckland, Kristoffer Beckland, Will DeWan; two step grandchildren Amanda Jacobsen (Cort Weber), Rebecca (Collin) Gehle;
two sisters Mary (Darwin) Tillman, Puyallup, Wash, Beatrice Berriochoa, Salt Lake City, Utah; a brother-in-law Jeff (Joyce) Wagner, Eagle River; many nieces and nephews, several cousins including Dean DeWan, Antigo.
In additon to his parents Lee was preceded in death by a sister, Katherine Sneed, father and mother-in-law, Jim and Catherine Wagner, a brother-in-law, Tom Wagner.
The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at St. John Catholic Church, Antigo with Rev. Charles Hoffmann officiating. Entombment will take place in Queen of Peace Mausoleum. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. on Monday at the Bradley Funeral Home and 8:30-9:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home.
Online condolences at www.bradleyfh.com.
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Antigo, Wisconsin 54409
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Antigo, WI 54409
There are oh so many things to remember about Lee; We were from the same neighborhood, went to high school (2yrs apart) both played sports (he was much more talented), shared many of the same friends, both worked at Hoe's Clothing Store,etc. His warm, wide, engaging smile is what I still remember all these years. When my sister mailed me the obituary and photo, there it was. That smile! After all these years it is still there.
Dear DeWan family,
I was a friend of Mike's in high school. My most vivid memory of Mr. DeWan is that contagious smile! Secondly, I remember him studying for insurance "tests" to advance his expertise. How wonderful to read that these efforts lead to such a successful career.
Sending thoughts and prayers to your family.
I allways looked forward to going to bass lake to run into you! I will miss that.. God Speed!
I knew Lee as a friend and good customer. As a friend, Lee and Ludene were the first guests at my father Jerome’s wake a few months ago, and stayed for moral support for most of the evening. As a friend, Lee would be referee for a basketball game one of my daughters or son would be playing. After the game he would let me know how they played. It was always positive. As a customer, Lee would always let me know when he was leaving his cottage for the Winter, to put me on call in case of a no-heat emergency. I remember changing a well pump with two feet of blowing snow on the ground. He had confidence in all my suggestions and work.
Our family, including my mother Rosemary, wish to express our deepest sympathies to the DeWan family. Our prayers are with you.
Dear Laura and Cliff, I was sorry to read of your Dad's death, Laura. God Bless all of you as you live through these immediate days and the days to come. May his soul rest in peace! Connie Landry
Dear Ludene, Mike and Laurie,
So sorry to hear about Lee's passing. Its such a paradox; crossing over is such a wonderful and fulfilling new experience for Lee yet is so hard on those that are left behind. What I remember about Lee was that he had two qualities I really liked....the devil in his eye and an angel in his heart. All the best.
Tom Scheurer
Dear DeWan family.
We are so sorry to hear of the passing of Lee, your
husband and father. He lived a good long life and surely enjoyed his retirement Although you will saddly miss him, you know that he is at peace with the Lord now. Bob and Marge
Lee at the 60 year Antigo High School reunion.
Sad to hear of Lee's passing. I was his class mate at St. Johns and Antigo High School (where we were on the baseball team). He was a great guy and will be greatly missed.
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