Judith Lee Obituary

Judith “Judy” Vi Lee was born on July 1, 1943, to Oscar “James” Jr. and Verna (Jensen) Atkins in Coon Rapids, Iowa. The family moved frequently during her early years before settling in Manning in 1955. Judy attended school in Manning, and on October 25, 1960, she was united in marriage with Carl F. Lee. Together, they made their home in Manning and raised six children: Tom, Tim, Susan, Shari, Sara, and Sabrina.

Judy dedicated many years to being a full-time mother, caring for her children and managing a busy household. She maintained a large garden, canned vegetables, sewed clothes, attended countless school and activity events, and served as a scout leader. Over the years, she also held a few jobs. She worked seasonally at Garst Seed, joining other local women for overnight shifts sorting corn in the fall. She also ran a couple of small businesses in town that showcased her creativity and artistic talents.

As her children grew older, Judy began working at Cliff’s Place as a waitress alongside her sister Vicki and family. She worked there for many years and enjoyed the sense of community it brought.

Judy was incredibly proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She loved traveling to visit family and especially cherished spending part of February each year with Tim and Steve in Scottsdale. In her mid-40s, she achieved several personal milestones she was proud of: earning her driver’s license, her GED, and an associate’s degree in business.

Family was at the heart of everything Judy did. She created magical Christmases for her children and delighted many families over the years with her hand-painted ornaments. She was a talented writer and poet, and lovingly created handmade clothes, dolls, and crafts for her children and grandchildren. Her love, creativity, and dedication left a lasting impact on everyone who knew her.

Judy passed away peacefully on June 21st, 2025, at Gracewell at Eventide in Denison, Iowa from Lewy-Body Dementia, having attained the age of 81 years, 11 months and 20 days. In addition to her parents, Oscar “James” Jr. and Verna Atkins, Judy was preceded death by her husband, Carl F. Lee and son, Tim Lee.

Left to cherish Judy’s memories are her children: Tom (Cindy) Lee of Wayne, NE, Susan (Terry) Zeman of Manilla, IA, Shari (Chris) Cozad of Blair NE, Sara (Todd) Fiedler of Bardstown, KY, and Sabrina Neil (Jamey Hinners) of Manning, IA; son-in-law, Steven Kaye of Scottsdale, AZ; 15 grandchildren: Mara, Mason, Tara, Jamie, Bethany, Joshua, Jacob, Joseph, Elijah, Myriah, Amanda, Shelby, Carlee, Danielle, and Eric; 13 great grandchildren; three siblings: Sallee Reilly of Sioux Falls, SD, Vicki Waterbury of Manning, IA, and Steve (Linda) Atkins of Shellsburg, IA; special friend, Russ Spies of Manning, IA; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation with Family Greeting Friends will be held on Friday, June 27, 2025, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., with the Funeral Services beginning at 2:00 p.m., all at the United Methodist Church in Manning. Burial will be in the Manning Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family.