Lee Siudzinski

 

Lee was born in South Milwaukee, WI, to the late Sylvester and Irma Siudzinski. He graduated from South Milwaukee High School in 1960.

 

Lee was a Vietnam veteran, having served in U.S. Army Aviation, where he learned to fly helicopters. Later, he went on to earn his private and commercial pilot’s licenses. Lee was most at home in the cockpit of his Piper Cherokee 180, flying out of his hangar in Eagle River to places near and far.  

 

Lee was a professional educator and administrator up until the end. He began his teaching career in southeast Wisconsin, then soon moved up the administrative ladder. He earned his Educational Doctorate degree from Marquette University in 1972, and from then on was affectionately referred to as “Dr. Lee”. His school administration leadership and people skills made a tremendous impact on students, staff and communities from Walworth and Wausau, to his final school superintendency in Kaukauna, WI.  

 

In his next role, Dr. Lee was able to meld his administrative skills with his love of aviation, serving as Vice President for Education at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) in Oshkosh, WI from 1998-2010. He then served as Executive Director of the Blue Sky Educational Foundation based out of Dallas, TX, where he worked with school districts around the country to deliver classroom curriculum with an aviation twist. Even in retirement, Lee kept active in sharing his love of flying by teaching online aviation courses to middle and high school students across the globe. He was still grading students the day before he landed under Hospice care.  

 

Lee had other interests outside of his professional and aviation pursuits. In his younger years, he was an avid runner, having qualified for and run in the Boston Marathon. He loved to golf, especially in St. Andrews, Scotland, and, most recently, in Sun City West, AZ. Lee loved to fish on the Three Lakes chain, always in pursuit of that elusive monster musky, and loved to kayak his beloved Planting Ground Lake. Although he had traveled around the world, Lee’s favorite places were the Grand Canyon, where he had hiked Rim to Rim, and his home in Three Lakes, where his dogs were always by his side.  

 

Lee’s life was an adventure, and he sure enjoyed the ride! His vibrant laughter and smile, kindness and generosity will be missed by his many friends and family. 

 

Lee was preceded in death by his wife, Karen. He is survived by their daughters, Beth (Greg) Brasher, Dana (Seth) Margolis, and Sarah (Joe) Elliott; and seven grandchildren.  

 

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

 

 Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hildebrand Funeral Home & Cremation Specialists, 24 E. Davenport Street, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, 54501, 715-365-4343. Everyone is invited to leave an online condolence at www.hildebrandrussfh.com                                             PAID OBITUARY