May 26, 1936 - August 20, 2009

LEE W. DEMAN was born May 26, 1936, in Omaha, Nebraska, to William and Hazel (Weeces) Deman. He passed away Thursday, August 20, 2009, at the Oakland Mercy Hospital in Oakland, Nebraska, at the age of 73 years.

Lee graduated from Decatur Public School in 1953 and went on to Wayne State Teachers College, where he graduated in 1957. In 1961 he earned his Masters in Education from the University of Nebraska.  In 1966 he went on to receive his Masters in Guidance from Kearney State Teachers College.

On August 8, 1957, Lee married Joyce Yvonne Steen at the United Methodist Church in Lyons, Nebraska. A daughter, Carol Lee was born to this union. They lived in Bassett, Nebraska for 13 years, where he had his first teaching job and later became principle. He was superintendent of Springview Public School for one year before they moved back to his hometown of Decatur. In Decatur he held many positions at the school from teacher, principle, guidance counselor and superintendent. He also served as the superintendent of schools for Burt County country schools for a few years. When the Decatur school consolidated with Lyons he taught in Lyons. In 1998 when he retired after 41 years in education, he was a guidance counselor at Lyons-Decatur Schools.

Lee served as the mayor of Decatur, was on the city council for 13 years and served on the Maple Villa and cemetery boards. He was also a member of the United Methodist Church in Decatur.

In his retirement he substituted for teachers, enjoyed fishing, mowing and having breakfast uptown. His biggest retirement hobby was his love for writing. He spent many hours researching and typing for his books and columns.

He was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother, Juanita Hale Deman and sister, Adene Nelson.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce of Decatur; daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Roy Hansen of Tekamah; three grandchildren, Molly Hansen of Omaha, Sam and Jack Hansen of Tekamah; sister, Jean Smith of Omaha along with a nephew, nieces relatives and friends.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Tuesday, August 25, 2009, 10:30 a.m. at the Decatur United Methodist Church.

VISITATION Monday, August 24, 2009, 1 - 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 6 - 8 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Services Tekamah. Visitation Tuesday will be held at the church one hour prior to the service.

BURIAL: Hillcrest Cemetery, Decatur, Nebraska

MEMORIALS: To the family.