Lee R. Gjovik

MADISON - Lee Roger Gjovik, age 92, of Madison, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, at Meriter Hospital. He was born on April 1, 1931, in Greenbush, Minn., the son of Olaf and Inga (Hamness) Gjovik.

Lee was the youngest of 10 children. While in high school, he was a letterman in hockey and football. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. (1959) and M.S. (1961) in Wood Science and Technology. He was proud to be the first in his family to graduate from both high school and college.

Lee enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951 and was stationed at Chanute AFB in Rantoul, Ill. He rose to the rank of Sergeant and was trained in mechanics and avionics. Lee met his future wife, Lyleth “Stevie” (Stevenson) Gjovik, on a blind date. After winning the hearts of her family by helping on their farm, they married on Aug. 27, 1955, and became a strong team.

Later that year, they moved to St. Paul where Lee entered college at the University of Minnesota with the support of his wife. Lyleth worked as a bookkeeper while he worked the summers as a dynamiter for road construction.

Upon graduating in 1961, Lee began working with the Forest Products Lab and moved to Madison, Wis., where he raised his family. He was president of the American Wood Protection Association and chairman of the government team that authored the Wood Preservation and Pesticides Handbook. As a research scientist he published over 80 papers and was the foremost expert on wood preservation for the U.S. Forest Service. After retiring from the Forest Products Lab, Lee continued to consult for 20 years.

His work included the Rural Wood Bridge Project, which promoted the use of long life wood bridges to solve the rural bridge deterioration issue; creating technology that enabled wood foundations for homes; inspecting and recommending repair and preservation treatments for the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) prior to its sailing in the U.S. Bicentennial Celebration; working on double diffusion wood treatments for marine pilings; refining ANSI standards for wood preservation; and pushing for worldwide wood preservation standards via the International Standards Organization.

He was a great storyteller and loved everyone. He was passionate about woodworking and would often retreat to his shop when the Packers weren't playing well. He was a member of the Forest Products Lab bowling league for 30 years, and was an avid golfer. He loved the outdoors, fishing and hunting. Motorcycle trips with Stevie on their Goldwing created some of his favorite memories. Kenya, Norway, Alaska and Hawaii were some of his favorite travel destinations.

Lee is survived by his wife, Lyleth “Stevie” Gjovik; two sons, Erik (Alice) Gjovik and Karl Gjovik; and two granddaughters, Madeline Gjovik and Hannah Gjovik. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A memorial service will be held at MIDVALE COMMUNITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, 4329 Tokay Blvd., Madison, on Saturday, May 18, 2024. Visitation will be held at the church at 11 a.m. with the service at noon. Luncheon to follow.
 

Memorials may be made to The Salvation Army, St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Midvale Lutheran Church.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West
Funeral & Cremation Care
7435 University Ave.
(608) 831-6761