Lee Adolph Nordgren

Lee Adolph Nordgren, 94 of Mankato, died Wednesday, September 19, 2018, at home with family by his side.  

A Celebration of Life will be held at 12 pm on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 937 Charles Avenue, Mankato. Visitation will be 2 hours prior to service, 10 am - 12 pm. Following the service, a gathering will continue until 3pm at church. Graveside service for Lee and Donna be at Mount Olivet Cemetery at 4pm with full military honors. Mankato Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements. www.mankatomortuary.com

Lee was born in Mankato to Margaret (Peg) Turnquist Nordgren and Adolph Gustav Nordgren on September 13, 1924. He attended Mankato schools, graduating from Mankato High in 1942.  He attended Mankato Teachers College. Lee learned to fly even before getting his driver’s license, and his love of flying led him into the Naval Aviation Program. When called to active duty, he entered the Navy’s V5 program, earned his Navy wings at Pensacola, FL and then joined his fighter squadron VF 50 in Seattle, WA.  They boarded the aircraft carrier, Cowpens, aka The Mighty Moo, and headed to the Pacific Theater.  Lee prided himself in flying nearly every aircraft the Navy had, but the one that impressed him the most as a fighter pilot was the F6F Hellcat. Near the end of WWII, it was the Hellcat that took him to Kure Harbor where he attacked the Japanese Ise Battleship, a very dangerous mission for which he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Navy’s top honor.  Following the war, Lee remained in the Navy as a Reservist and flew (which remained a great love of his) one weekend a month and two weeks of active duty each year. He served 30 years, retiring as a Commander.

This past August, Lee was honored for his WWII service by the Minnesota Twins as the game Veteran Flag Raiser during the National Anthem. He was joined by family and friends at Target Field for this memorable and emotional service.

Lee married his high school sweetheart, Donna Lou Charles of North Mankato, on June 22, 1946. He returned to Mankato Teachers College, graduating in 1949. Lee opened Artcraft Camera Shop in conjunction with his father’s photofinishing business. He was active for many years in several local, state, and national photographic organizations, winning awards for his photography. His business was comprised of a camera shop, photofinishing, commercial photography, and a portrait studio, providing many photographic memories for Mankato and surrounding communities. Lee was frequently requested, even after retiring, by families to be the photographer for the next generation for graduations, weddings, and family portraits.

Lee was awarded the 1957 Mankato Junior Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Young Man Distinguished Service award. He was active in Kiwanis, holding the office of President from 1980-81, and was the oldest attending member when he passed away. He loved to play tennis, indoor and outdoor, travel, visit museums, volunteer, sail, and was the official family event photographer. As an avid reader and debater of history, religion, and politics, he knew how to stir things up. In later years, he took time to regularly visit family and friends in nursing homes.  Lee gave several presentations in the Mankato area on his Naval flying career. He was a great and patient family man. He was a loving, supportive father, always the educator, and a wonderful provider throughout his life – he kept us laughing along the way.

“Lee led an ethical life without the promise of Heaven” shared by his wife Donna.

Lee is survived by his 5 children, Brad of Medina, Lynn of Minneapolis, Lori Krueger of Mankato, Bruce (Sara) of Mequon, WI, and Kris (Dave Fritz) of Mankato; adopted son, Sam (Shymal) Roy (Mary), and sons Anjon and Anthony (Amanda); sister, Jane (Dave) Schostag of Mankato; cousins, Judy (Carl) Nemecek, Bill (Ruthann) Uggen, and Carol (Tom) Patterson;  special in-laws, Rich O’Brien, Marcia Richards, Lyle and Kay Jacobson, all of Mankato; seven grandchildren, Nate Nordgren, Khara (Saul) Baumann, Paige (Aaron) Manlove, Ben (Kate) Krueger, Kelly, Kristofor, and Keefe Nordgren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Lee was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Donna Nordgren; mother, Peg Nordgren Randall; father, Adolph Nordgren; brother, Ensign Jon Nordgren (killed flying a Navy jet fighter- non combat); sister and brother-in-law, Peggy and Dean Lowe; nephew, Mark Lowe; aunt and uncle, Edith and Glenn Uggen; sister-in-law, Sharon Klaverkamp; and infant grandson, Nathan Lee Nordgren.

Memorials may be given to Mount Olivet Cemetery or donor’s choice.