Lee Folsom
Lee F. Folsom, 71, of Waukon died Thursday, March 12, 2020 at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 17 at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial with military rites was at Old West Paint Creek Cemetery.
Lee Frederick Folsom was born August 26, 1948 in Postville, the son of Charles and Pearl (Kuhse) Folsom. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Postville. Lee attended rural Ludlow Township elementary school and Waukon High School. He began his working career as a mechanic for Quandahl Martin Ford in Waukon.
Lee was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1968 and served through 1970 doing a tour of duty at Okinawa in the Maintenance Battalion. Following his discharge, he returned to Waukon and his former job.
June 17, 1968, he married Letha Nierling at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville. Lee soon began work as a mechanic for Wes Keck at West Side Garage. After Wes retired, he spent many years as co-owner of West Side Garage with his brother, Leo. He later worked at Hansmeier Truck and Trailer for a number of years and most recently has been the parts manager and consultant at LnM Truck and Trailer in Waukon. Lee finished his GED while in the service and attended numerous technical training courses through the years establishing himself as a very capable and accomplished mechanic.
Lee was very involved in stock car racing and for many years served as a tech man inspecting the cars at Echo Valley Speedway in West Union. He also loved horses and horseback riding, following NASCAR, playing cards and taking trips to Waterville, MN to fish for bullheads. He also enjoyed music and played guitar when he was younger as well as in a band during his service days. In later years he cherished the times he got to spend with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Letha, of Waukon; his children: Dianna (Steven Onsager) Kalish of Waukon, Aaron (Nickie) Folsom of Caledonia, MN and Nicole (Duane Nagel) Folsom of Postville; nine grandchildren: Rikki, Ashley (Josh), Scott, Mike (Crissy), Cole, Austin, Ruby, Cody and Conor; nine great-grandchildren: Nevayah, Alayanah, Cashten, Leirah, McKenzie, Ben, Brayden, Eli and Kaitlyn; his siblings: Lynn, Leo (Joann) and Clark Folsom, all of Waukon, Marie (Ralph) Plein of Lansing and Sandy (Pat) Blake of Dorchester; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Alice Riley Magner.
His siblings served as honorary casketbearers. Casketbearers were Bob Moses, Lyle Leikvold, Troy Hansmeier, Matt Hawkins, Lyle Guese and David Burroughs.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
