In Memory Of
Denis Charles Lee
1939
2023
Denis Charles Lee
January 8, 1939 — December 23, 2023
NOBLESVILLE - Denis Charles Lee was born and raised in North Judson, Indiana. He entered this life on January 8, 1939 and was the loving son of the late Donald and Tuberia (Ruchti) Lee.
Denis graduated from North Judson High School in 1957. He attended Indiana University where he took premed classes and majored in Zoology because he was fascinated with animals. Then received his Master’s in Art from the University of Illinois. Denis was united in marriage on October 1, 2000 to Frances (Derry) Roland at the Little Chapel of the Flowers in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Early in life Denis honorably served his country in the United State Army. Professionally, he worked at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for 5 years before accepting a position at the University of Michigan working as Assistant Professor of Medical Illustration. Eventually, he became full professor and worked for the university for 30 years. Denis was also Professor of Art, Professor of Postgraduate Medicine and Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery; as well as serving as Director of the Graduate Program in Medical and Biological Illustration while working at UoM.
Denis was a gifted artist; his illustrations were published in textbooks and his students went on to become directors of Medical Illustration programs all over the country. During his tenure, he opened a successful prosthetic business, “Lee Medical,” helping thousands of patients from around the country. Denis appeared on the Today Show, was featured in People Magazine and the Ann Arbor News.
His hobbies included oil painting, woodworking, sculpting and gardening. Denis created over 700 oil paintings and numerous sculptures throughout his retirement. He was an avid football and basketball fan for the University of Michigan. Denis enjoyed traveling with his wife, fine dining & hotels, visiting the ocean, lounging by the pool and fishing. He cherished spending time with his family, especially the grandkids. Denis loved his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren immensely. He was known to love a good cigar and bourbon and his motto was, “a woman is a woman but a cigar is a smoke!” Denis always had a great time when friends and neighbors visited and everyone hung out on the patio. His favorite thing to do was play jokes on family and friends.
Denis was a member of the Rotary Club in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as well as the “Friday Club” formerly known as the “Culture Club,” which met every Friday for 30 years consisting of colleagues from the university. He was loyal, extremely talented and passionate.
Denis, age 84, of Noblesville, Indiana passed away at 3:44 AM on Saturday, December 23, 2023 at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Denis is survived by his loving wife, Frances Roland-Lee; sons Garrick Lee and his wife, Michelle, Grant Lee and his wife, Erin; daughter, Hilary (Lee) Holton and her husband, Wesley; stepsons, Brian Roland and his wife, Gigi and Marc Roland and his wife, Jamie; grandchildren: Madison Duffiney and her husband, Evan, Jared Lee and his significant other, Arwa Hararwala, Katherine Lee, Alison Lee, Benjamin Lee, Max Holton, Audrey (Roland) Ardizzone and her husband, Joe, Marc J. Roland and his wife, Isabella, Clare Roland and Thomas Roland; great grandchildren: Easton, Callie and Sianna Duffiney and baby Isabella Ardizzone; sister-in-laws, Mary Catherine Becher and Patricia McConnell and her husband, James. Also, his childhood best-friend, Charlie Pefley; longtime friends, Bill Bonds and Dave & Cindy Barnwell; college fraternity brothers, and close neighbors Mike & Connie Brown and Ralph and Debbie Gesell.
In addition to his parents, Denis was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Paul Becher. He was also preceded in death by his dear friends: Laurel Lee Lutz, James “Jim” Harris, Jim Scutchfield and Dave Felbeck.
A tribute reception will be held from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at Nickel Plate Art Gallery, 107 South 8th Street, Noblesville, Indiana 46060, to honor Denis’ life in art.
Please continue to support Denis’ family during this difficult time by clicking the “Share Memories” icon located above and sharing your thoughts, memories and prayers.
The Lee family invites you to peruse his paintings and his website, DenisLeeArt.com.
Denis graduated from North Judson High School in 1957. He attended Indiana University where he took premed classes and majored in Zoology because he was fascinated with animals. Then received his Master’s in Art from the University of Illinois. Denis was united in marriage on October 1, 2000 to Frances (Derry) Roland at the Little Chapel of the Flowers in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Early in life Denis honorably served his country in the United State Army. Professionally, he worked at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for 5 years before accepting a position at the University of Michigan working as Assistant Professor of Medical Illustration. Eventually, he became full professor and worked for the university for 30 years. Denis was also Professor of Art, Professor of Postgraduate Medicine and Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery; as well as serving as Director of the Graduate Program in Medical and Biological Illustration while working at UoM.
Denis was a gifted artist; his illustrations were published in textbooks and his students went on to become directors of Medical Illustration programs all over the country. During his tenure, he opened a successful prosthetic business, “Lee Medical,” helping thousands of patients from around the country. Denis appeared on the Today Show, was featured in People Magazine and the Ann Arbor News.
His hobbies included oil painting, woodworking, sculpting and gardening. Denis created over 700 oil paintings and numerous sculptures throughout his retirement. He was an avid football and basketball fan for the University of Michigan. Denis enjoyed traveling with his wife, fine dining & hotels, visiting the ocean, lounging by the pool and fishing. He cherished spending time with his family, especially the grandkids. Denis loved his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren immensely. He was known to love a good cigar and bourbon and his motto was, “a woman is a woman but a cigar is a smoke!” Denis always had a great time when friends and neighbors visited and everyone hung out on the patio. His favorite thing to do was play jokes on family and friends.
Denis was a member of the Rotary Club in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as well as the “Friday Club” formerly known as the “Culture Club,” which met every Friday for 30 years consisting of colleagues from the university. He was loyal, extremely talented and passionate.
Denis, age 84, of Noblesville, Indiana passed away at 3:44 AM on Saturday, December 23, 2023 at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Denis is survived by his loving wife, Frances Roland-Lee; sons Garrick Lee and his wife, Michelle, Grant Lee and his wife, Erin; daughter, Hilary (Lee) Holton and her husband, Wesley; stepsons, Brian Roland and his wife, Gigi and Marc Roland and his wife, Jamie; grandchildren: Madison Duffiney and her husband, Evan, Jared Lee and his significant other, Arwa Hararwala, Katherine Lee, Alison Lee, Benjamin Lee, Max Holton, Audrey (Roland) Ardizzone and her husband, Joe, Marc J. Roland and his wife, Isabella, Clare Roland and Thomas Roland; great grandchildren: Easton, Callie and Sianna Duffiney and baby Isabella Ardizzone; sister-in-laws, Mary Catherine Becher and Patricia McConnell and her husband, James. Also, his childhood best-friend, Charlie Pefley; longtime friends, Bill Bonds and Dave & Cindy Barnwell; college fraternity brothers, and close neighbors Mike & Connie Brown and Ralph and Debbie Gesell.
In addition to his parents, Denis was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Paul Becher. He was also preceded in death by his dear friends: Laurel Lee Lutz, James “Jim” Harris, Jim Scutchfield and Dave Felbeck.
A tribute reception will be held from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at Nickel Plate Art Gallery, 107 South 8th Street, Noblesville, Indiana 46060, to honor Denis’ life in art.
Please continue to support Denis’ family during this difficult time by clicking the “Share Memories” icon located above and sharing your thoughts, memories and prayers.
The Lee family invites you to peruse his paintings and his website, DenisLeeArt.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Denis Charles Lee, please visit our flower store.
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