R Lee Wade AKA “Lee”, passed peacefully with family by his side, at Golden Orchards in Fennville, MI, on July 16, 2026. Lee was born to his late parents Robert and Thula (Dumbar) Wade in Lyons, Kansas, on November 9, 1931. After losing his first wife Kathleen (Murray) Wade in 2005, and sometime later, Lee remarried Margaret (Chatterson) Wade and shared over 19 years together. Lee had served Honorably in the Army during the Korean War as an infantryman where he was classified as a sharpshooter spending his deployment in Germany. He was a member of the Sons of the Revolution and his family arrived in 1635 from Europe. Richard Wade the III, his grandfather, served with Daniel Boone and Captain Johnson Watkins in 1777-1778 in the cause of the American Independence during the war of the Revolution. He started working at Boeing, becoming a Chief Mechanic, fixing military planes. Outside of work, he truly enjoyed the outdoors, from hunting, fishing, going on long trips across the US and Europe and of course loving the French cuisine. He loved to eat good food anytime, anywhere, from home kitchens and quality restaurants. Another love of his was guns, from shooting, cleaning, or buying them, he had them all. You defiantly didn’t want to break into his house. Lee was defined for his hard work, honesty, and determination to make the world a better place. Through his military career and workforce, he was the guy. Always thinking of others, dependable, and a man of integrity. He was the kindest man, loved by everyone and treated everyone with respect and value. He will be deeply missed and will forever be etched into all the lives that he impacted.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret (Chatterson) Wade; children, Yvonne Bell, Donna (Joe) Watchous, Roxanna Barlow, Theresa (Terri Reed) Bux, and Jacque Allen; stepchildren, Rusty (Tracy) Bellenger, Doug Bellenger, and Susan (Darrell) Hinz; 25 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Leslie Wade and Kenneth Wade.

Lee's Catholic Funeral Service will be on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 12:00 PM with an hour's visitation before from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM at Chappell Funeral Home, 637 West Main Street, Fennville, MI 49408. Following the service there will be a graveside at Lee Township Cemetery with Military Honors.

The Catholic Funeral Service will be livestreamed for those who cannot make it through the Chappell Funeral Home website on Lee’s obituary page.

https://www.chappellfuneralhome.com/obituaries/r-wade