Lee LaFleur, age 76, of Onekama, MI, passed away unexpectedly at his home, on May 30, 2024.

He was the son of Dr. Arthur and Mrs. Vera LaFleur. Lee was a graduate of the Manistee High School class of 1966, and a 1970 graduate of Western Michigan University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business. The same year, he married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Rozmarek, at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, in Manistee. Lee and Joyce celebrated 53 wonderful years of marriage together this past year.

Lee served as Captain and Commanding Officer of the Manistee post of the Michigan National Guard, 1st BN. 246 Armor, from 1970 to 1974. He later assumed the role of Battalion Intelligence Officer from 1974 to 1978. In 1982, he co-founded Custom Packaging Systems in Manistee along with his father, Arthur, and brother, Arnie, and was the president and owner from 1982 to 2000. The company received 6 growth awards for being one of the fastest growing privately held companies in Michigan based on annual sales and placed on the Top 500 fastest growing privately held companies in the US according to INC. Magazine. After selling the company to Scholle Corporation, he continued working there for six years as the head of Research and Development. Lee retired on January 1, 2006. Throughout his life, Lee achieved many notable accomplishments. He was the recipient of the Governor's Innovation Award and held an impressive total of 36 patents in the United States and foreign countries. Lee served as the past president of the Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container Association.

In addition to his professional achievements, Lee was actively involved in his community. He was a faithful member of Guardian Angels Catholic Church, and Divine Mercy Parish in Manistee. He served as the Fundraising Chairman for The Portage Lake Association from 2009 to 2010. Lee dedicated his time to various volunteer activities, including working at the St. Joseph food pantry in Onekama, planting trees with the Arbor Day Foundation, and participating in Lions breakfasts. He generously shared his expertise as an expert witness for polyethylene packaging court cases and as a consultant to the plastics industry regarding polyethylene film. Lee also assisted local individuals in obtaining patents for their own ideas.

Lee made time for his hobbies of fishing and boating, and enjoyed the local wildlife, especially hand feeding the chipmunks. He was an avid reader who liked watching movies and sending critical reviews to his friends, playing X Box, passing on jokes, and beating his friends and son-in-law at cribbage. Lee was known for being a kind-hearted generous person and was very appreciative of his employees. He was always thinking of creative ways to fix a problem or make life better for others.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his in-laws Henry and Violet Rozmarek, and his two beloved cats, Nicky and Abby. He is survived by his wife Joyce, daughters Kelly (Phillip) Kotecki and Jayme (Joshua) Daley, granddaughters Blake Kotecki, and Korra and Alaura Daley, sister Laurie LaFleur, brother Arnie (Gail) LaFleur, brothers-in-law Henry (Janet) Rozmarek and James (Cynthia) Rozmarek, and numerous nieces and nephews. There is nothing that can replace the ache in our hearts except the comfort of knowing the joy Lee is now experiencing with our Heavenly Father.

Visitation for Lee will be held on Wednesday June 5, 2024, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the Oak Grove Funeral Home in Manistee. A prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at 11:00 am at Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Manistee. Family will receive friends Thursday at the church from 10:00 am until the time of Mass. Following internment at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, friends and family are invited to celebrate Lee's life with a luncheon to be served at the St. Joseph Parish Center.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Divine Mercy Parish, Guardian Angels Church Restoration Project, or the Manistee County Humane Society.

Please visit Lee's personal page of memories at www.oakgrovefh.com to share a photo or memory. Oak Grove Funeral Home in Manistee is honored to assist the family during this difficult time.