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Permanent LinkRepresentative Nelson J. Lee View All Years
NELSON J. LEE
MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable Judge Nelson J. Lee, begs leave to submit the following memorial:
Judge Nelson J. Lee was born March 11, 1873, near Estherville, Iowa. His parents were Joseph Nelson Lee and Christe Ellingson. The family later moved to Estherville, and Judge Lee received an education in the public schools. Later the family moved to Des Moines, where he attended Drake University, from which he received a law degree in 1896.
Judge Lee was the oldest practicing attorney in Emmet county when retirement was forced upon him by a heart attack last July. He began the practice of law in Des Moines and later the same year in Estherville, in 1898.
He was married to Maude Genevieve Deemer, May 29, 1902, in Des Moines. They had two sons, Robert and Deemer.
Judge Lee was active in local, county and state politics. He served as city attorney of Estherville in 1899 and 1900 and was county attorney from 1901 to 1905. He was a member of the Thirty-second, Thirty-Second Extra and Thirty-third Sessions of the General Assembly, taking a prominent part in the passage of the primary election law which he had charge of drafting. He was elected judge of the 14th Judicial District in 1912, serving on the bench for eleven years. He retired from the judgeship in 1923 to resume the practice of law. During 1911 and 1913 he served as assistant attorney general.
He was a member of the Iowa Bar Association, was president of the Emmet County Bar Association, was a charter member of the Estherville Rotary Club, served as Exalted Ruler of B.P.O. Elks Lodge No. 528, and was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He was chairman of the Emmet County Chapter of the American Red Cross during World War I, was active in the Estherville Golf Club, was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and he was always an active member of the Republican party. He was a member of the Lutheran Church.
Judge Lee is survived by his wife and two sons, Robert and Deemer Lee, and five grandsons of Estherville.
Judge Nelson J. Lee died March 22, 1953, of a coronary occlusion at the age of 80.
Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Fifty-fifth General Assembly of Iowa, That in the passing of The Honorable Judge Nelson J. Lee the state has lost an honored citizen and a faithful, useful public servant, and the House by this resolution, would express its appreciation of his service, and tender its sympathy to the members of his family.
Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.
MAX M. SOETH,
ROY J. SMITH,
CLIFFORD M. STRAWMAN,
Committee.