Kay G Lee
October 15, 1946 - September 21, 2025
Obituary
SAGINAW, Mich. / MIDDLETON, Wis. - On October 15, 1946, in Pigeon, Mich., a remarkable woman was born - Kay Gremel Lee, the beloved daughter of Orville and Hilda Gremel. On September 21, 2025, she left this world surrounded by love, leaving behind a legacy of courage, creativity, and compassion that will be carried forward by all who knew her.
In 1977, she married Ron Lee, her devoted husband and partner of 48 years. Together they built a life of love and partnership that has stood as a beautiful example for their children and grandchildren.
Kay is survived by her children, Jim and Laura Lee (with granddaughter Madi and her husband, Matthew); Jonathan and Jodi Lee (with grandchildren Jack and Avery); Katie Lee and Kyle Smith (with grandchildren Isabelle, Nolan, Clayton, and Hannah); and Abbie and Preston Rodriguez (with grandchildren Jacob and Rose). She was also a loving sister to Joel (Lyndsay) Gremel, Joanie (Bryan) Marko and Ann (Dave) Germond. She is preceded in death by her parents, Orville and Hilda Gremel.
A gifted seamstress, quilter, crocheter, teacher, baker, and cook, Kay was truly an artist with her hands and her heart. She poured her time and talents generously into her family, friends, and community, creating beauty and warmth in every stitch, every meal, and every person she touched. For many years, she taught Home Economics and Family Living, quietly shaping the lives of her students with her patience, warmth, and practical wisdom. Later, she worked as a skilled bookkeeper, where her meticulous care and dedication shone just as brightly.
Kay’s joy extended beyond her family and work. She loved line dancing, cheering on her Michigan State Spartans and Detroit Lions, and spending time with dear friends. Her life’s journey carried her from Michigan, where she raised her family, to winters in Florida, and finally to Wisconsin, where she and Ron moved nine years ago to be closer to her children and grandchildren.
She took great pride in being both the mother of twins and the grandmother of twins - a special bond she celebrated with joy. Her motto, often told to her children, was simple but powerful: “You can do hard things.” Those words became her family’s compass and a reflection of her own extraordinary strength.
Kay was a three-time cancer warrior - surviving Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1965, battling lung cancer in 2023, and facing sarcoma in 2024. Through every trial, she lived with grace, grit, and determination. She was, in every sense, “one tough mother.”
She was loved deeply and will be missed immeasurably, but her legacy endures in the lessons she taught, the beauty she created, and the family she cherished.
A memorial service will be held at ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH, 8695 Gratiot Road, Saginaw, Mich., at 11 a.m., on Saturday, November 22, 2025. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday, with a luncheon to follow at Swan Valley Golf and Banquet, 9521 Highland Green Drive, Saginaw, Mich.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a cause close to her heart. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson West
Funeral & Cremation Care
7435 University Ave.
(608) 831-6761