Obituary for Keith Hegtvedt Lee

Keith Hegtvedt Lee, 95 passed away peacefully at Good Samaritan Nursing Home in West Union on Sunday, October 11.  The funeral service will be at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Luana on Tuesday, December 1st with visitation preceding the service.  Burial will be at the Luana church cemetery. 

Keith was born November 7, 1930 in Decorah, Iowa to Jacob and Anna Lee.  He was baptized at the Ossian Lutheran Church, and confirmed at Washington Prairie Church in Decorah.  He graduated with the class of 1949 in Decorah.  Keith was a school officer and lettered for 4 years in baseball during high school.  Keith was a good pitcher for the Decorah Cubs town team and was scouted by minor league teams until he was stricken by polio. He was voted Mr. Winneshiek in 1953.  

Keith married Gertrude Louise Kugel on August 6, 1954 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Postville.  Keith and Gert had 5 children, 4 sons and 1 daughter.

Keith farmed with his parents for 10 years east of Decorah.  In December 1964, Keith and Gert bought a farm south of Luana.  They sold registered Spotted and Yorkshire hogs.  Later they raised Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses.  Keith and Gert also raised Airedale puppies.   In 1989, Keith and Gert started a new business selling maintenance products.  In 2001, they bought a home in Wadena. In 2014, they were elected King and Queen of Wadena Days and were in the town’s parade during the celebration.

Keith was known as a jokester, and sometimes he played tricks on others.  Both he and Gert enjoyed being with friends and family.  Keith and Gert’s personalities were always upbeat and optimistic.  They had a way of making others feel welcome while serving countless cups of coffee and pancakes around their kitchen table on the farm.

Survivors include his sons Jacob (Carol) of Moyo, Uganda and Jens (Denise) of New London, and daughter Jackie of Marion; nine grandchildren Joshua (Rebecca) Lee, Josiah (Unyae) Lee, Anna (Kenny) Danley, Brian Creasman, Perry Asmus, Benson Lee, Kaitlyn Lee, Kallie Lee and Megan Lee; ten great grandchildren, along with many nephews, nieces, other extended family, and friends.

Preceding him in death were his wife Gert in 2020, son John in 2023, and son Jeff in 2025; grandson, Garrick; sisters Gloria (Wally) Larson and LaRue (Dean) Hagen; along with many brothers in law and sisters in law; nephews Dan Kugel, Jim Kamp, Ed Kamp, Tom Kamp and niece Connie Brinkmann.

 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to RAU-Reaching Africa’s Unreached https://reachingafricasunreached.org or Midwest Mission Bible Training Center in Cresco, IA. 

The family wishes to thank the entire staff of Good Samaritan Society in West Union and Emplify Health & Hospice in West Union.