Lee LaFleur, age 76 , of Onekama, MI, passed away unexpectedly at home on May 30, 2024.

He was the son of Dr. Arthur and Mrs. Vera LaFleur. Lee was a graduate of Manistee High School class of 1966, and a 1970 graduate of Western Michigan University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business. The same year, he married his high school sweetheart Joyce Rozmarek at Guardian Angels Parish in Manistee. Lee and Joyce celebrated 53 years of marriage together this past year.

Lee served as Captain and Commanding Officer of the Manistee post of the Michigan National Guard, 1st BN. 246 Armor, from 1970 to 1974. He later assumed the role of Battalion Intelligence Officer from 1974 to 1978.

In 1982, he co-founded Custom Packaging Systems in Manistee alongside his father, Arthur, and brother, Arnie, and was the president and owner from 1982 to 2000. The company received 6 growth awards for being one of the fastest growing privately held companies in Michigan based on annual sales, and placed on the Top 500 fastest growing privately held companies in the US according to INC. Magazine. After selling the company to Scholle Corporation, he continued working there for six years as the head of Research and Development. Lee retired on January 1, 2006. Throughout his life, Lee achieved many notable accomplishments. He was the recipient of the Governor's Innovation Award and held an impressive total of 36 patents in the United States and foreign countries. Lee served as the past president of the Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container Association.

In addition to his professional achievements, Lee was actively involved in his community. He was a faithful member of Guardian Angels and Divine Mercy Parish in Manistee. He served as the Fundraising Chairman for The Portage Lake Association from 2009 to 2010. Lee dedicated his time to various volunteer activities, including working at the St. Joseph food pantry in Onekama, planting trees with the Arbor Day Foundation, and participating in Lion's day breakfasts. He generously shared his expertise as an expert witness for polyethylene packaging court cases and as a consultant to the plastics industry regarding polyethylene film. Lee also assisted local individuals in obtaining patents for their own ideas. Lee also made time for his hobbies of fishing and boating. He also enjoyed the local wildlife, especially hand feeding the chipmunks. He liked watching movies and sending critical reviews to his friends, playing X-Box, passing on jokes, and beating his friends and son-in-law at cribbage. Lee was known for being a kind-hearted generous person and was appreciative of his employees. He was always thinking of creative ways to fix a problem or make life better for others.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his in-laws Henry and Violet Rozmarek. He is survived by his wife Joyce, daughters Kelly (Phillip) Kotecki and Jayme (Joshua) Daley, granddaughters Blake Kotecki, and Korra and Alaura Daley, sister Laurie LaFleur, brother Arnie (Gail) LaFleur, brother-in-laws Henry (Janet) Rozmarek and James (Cynthia) Rozmarek, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Lee will be held on Wednesday June 5, 2024 from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Oak Grove Funeral Home in Manistee. A prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 11:00 am at Guardian Angels Church in Manistee. Family will receive friends Thursday at the church from 10:00 am until the time of mass. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Homeward Bound