James "Sam" Ellis Lee

James "Sam" Lee, 84, of Glenwood, passed away on September 11, 2014 at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, IA. Celebration of Life will be 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 16, 2014, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Glenwood, with Pastor Seth Kaiser officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, September 15, 2014, at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Glenwood.

Memorial fund has been established

James "Sam" Ellis Lee, 84 of Glenwood, passed away at the Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital in Council Bluffs on September 11, 2014, at the age of 84 years, 7 months, and 21 days, with his family by his side.

Sam, one of three children of Scott E. and Wilma I. (Garrett) Lee, was born on January 22, 1930 in Glenwood. Sam remained in Glenwood all his life and was to graduate from high school in 1948, but due to a farming accident, was delayed to 1949. He worked several jobs and retired from Iowa Power and Light (Mid-American Energy) in 1992. He served in the National Guard and retired after 31 years.

Sam and Nancy Osterholm were united in marriage on August 30, 1953 in Glenwood. Their marriage was blessed with three daughters, Michelle "Mickey", Marcia, and Maricelle.

Sam always had a smile on his face and a joke to tell. Although his wife, children, and grandchildren were the most important to him, his biggest love was of sports, and he was a fan to those he knew and those he didn't know (which was few). He traveled thousands of miles to see his children and grandchildren (and adopted children and grandchildren) participate in everything they were involved in. His family has no idea why, but Sam was an Oklahoma Sooners fan to the end. Sam loved playing cards and taught his grandchildren math by teaching them to play "Blackjack". He also loved to play Bingo and take his "beautiful bride" to Las Vegas.

Sam was well known in the community and his family could not go anywhere that someone didn't know him. This drove his children and grandchildren crazy until they grew to try and be just like him.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law; sister Patricia Thomas; brothers-in-law, Richard Thomas and Darwin Bradley; and son-in-law Jason Qualset.

Sam is survived by his loving wife Nancy Lee of Glenwood; daughters, Mickey Qualset of Bellevue, NE, Marcia Leu and husband Darryl of Malvern, IA, and Maricelle Lee and friend Keith Buffin of Glenwood; grandchildren, Mallory Leu and friend Nathan Murray of Glenwood, Darci Steele and husband Jeremy of Omaha, NE, and Darryk Leu of Malvern; sister Janet Bradley of Glenwood; brothers-in-law, Lynn Osterholm and wife Pauline of Omaha, and LeMar Osterholm and wife Sharon of Glenwood; a host of other relatives; and many, many friends.