Bernard A. “Bernie” Lee, 90, of Avoca, Iowa, passed away Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, at Avoca Specialty Care.

Bernie was born April 8, 1929, the eldest of nine children, in Ruthven, Iowa, to the late Oscar A. and Ruth B. (Sampson) Lee. He graduated from Cylinder High School in 1947 and proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force. Bernie then attended Waldorf Junior College.

He married AnnJeanette O. Opdahl on Sept. 2, 1950, in Minnesota. He continued his education at Luther College and earned his degree from Mankato State while raising five children, Aurora, Marcus, Forrest, Dana and Meredith. Bernie worked for Pottawattamie County Conservation as a park officer at Arrowhead Park in Neola, Iowa. He retired in 1992. Bernie was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca and Avoca American Legion Post No. 227.

In addition to his parents, Bernie was preceded in death by his wife, AnnJeanette Lee, on Feb. 15, 2019; daughter, Aurora Jeanette Lee, in 1967; one brother and three sisters.

Bernie is survived by his sons Marcus (Carol) Lee of Jefferson, Iowa, Forrest “Frosty” Lee of Stuttgart, Germany, Dana (Deb) Lee of Minneapolis and Meredith “Tiger” (Connie) Lee of Avoca; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; siblings Jarrett (Jan) Lee of Tully, Oklahoma, Donna Mundus of Waukee, Iowa, Wanda (James) Spiker of Oskaloosa, Iowa, and Jeanine (Mark) Lucy of Treynor, Iowa; and nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca. A lunch will immediately follow in the parish hall. Visitation with the family will be one hour prior to the service at the church Thursday. Inurnment will be at a later date in Conger. Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church or the Neola Fire & Rescue Department.