Leeander "Lee" Franklin Voigt

Leeander "Lee" Franklin Voigt, a man who could outlast the Energizer Bunny in both spirit and deeds, embarked on his final adventure on January 8, 2025, leaving behind a legacy that could only be described as larger than life.

Born on February 17, 1940, in the quaint town of Pequot Lake, Minnesota, Lee's zest for life was as clear as the waters of the lake he grew up by. He passed away in Melrude, Minnesota, with the same gusto with which he lived, following a heart attack that finally managed to do what no fish, four-wheeler, or bear could—slow him down.

Lee wasn't just a man; he was a force of nature, a whirlwind of joy and mischief that swept through the town and left everyone with aching sides from laughter. When he wasn't turning wrenches at ICO in Cotton, he was the proud groundskeeper of the township, caring for the land with the tenderness of a poet and the precision of a drill sergeant. His community projects were the stuff of legend, and the fire department was his second home, where he served as Assistant Chief at the Melrude Hall right up until his last hoorah.

But Lee wasn't just a local hero; he was a patriot too, served in the US Army, even attended the Armed Forces Review in honor of President John F. Kennedy on June 25th, 1963, a proud member of the VFW Post 3044, where he stood shoulder to shoulder with fellow veterans, sharing stories that were probably true, if you believed in the impossible.

Lee was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Joyce; and their daughter, Tammy; both of whom I'm sure he's regaling with tales of his Earthly shenanigans right now, his parents, William and Dorothy Voigt (Newman); his 4 brothers and 1 sister: William "Jr" Voigt, John "Spanky" Voigt, Larry "Butch" Voigt, Ron "Skip" Voigt, and Beverly "Bev" McConkey.

He is survived by his son, Chris; the ever-patient daughter-in-law, Kym; and his grandchildren, Nikki and Devin, who inherited his love for life and, thankfully, his sense of humor; and special friend, Jeanie Koivisto.

Lee's interests were as wild and varied as the seasons of Minnesota. If he wasn't fishing, he was 4-wheeling; if he wasn't snowmobiling, he was hunting. He was a man for all seasons—literally. The great outdoors was his playground, and he loved nothing more than sharing it with his grandchildren. The cabin was the family's heart, a place where laughter echoed off the walls, and memories were as plentiful as the fish in the lake.

As the mastermind behind "Lee's Bear Camp," he hosted "the Boys"—Jason, Tony, Dave, Dennis, and Chris—for the most raucous hunting seasons imaginable. It was a time for bonding, for "not getting into trouble," and for stories that would grow taller with each telling.

Every Memorial Day, you could find Lee meticulously mowing and preparing the Melrude Cemetery, a task he undertook with reverence and a little bit of slapstick, because why not make the ghosts laugh too? His decade-long stint as an active EVFD member was interspersed with a few years off for good behavior, but like a true comic, he couldn't stay away from the spotlight for too long.

Before he became the jack-of-all-trades in Ellsburg, Lee was a trained mechanic in the Cities, a career that taught him there's no nut too tight and no bolt too stubborn—much like his personality.

In conclusion, Lee Voigt was a man who lived his life like a firework—bright, loud, and with a bang that you felt in your chest. His departure leaves a Lee-sized hole in the fabric of the community, but the stories he left behind will keep us warm on the coldest Minnesota nights. So, here's to Lee—may the fish be biting, the trails endless, and the laughter as hearty as it was here on Earth.
 

A funeral service for Lee will be held on Monday, May 19th, 2025, at the Trinity Lutheran Church (Address: 900 13th St. S. - Virginia, MN 55792) at 1:00 p.m. with the visitation being held at 12:00 p.m.