Lee Havlik

Lee Havlik

Chelsea

Lee Havlik, of Chelsea, was born on May 4, 1954, in Manchester, Iowa, to Lumir and Lucille (Rafson) Havlik and died Sept. 30, 2022, at the age of 68. He graduated from North Linn High School in 1972, then from Kirkwood Community College in 1974. He married the love of his life, Kathy Bazyn, in Cedar Rapids on July 17, 1978. They lived in Coggon and Marshalltown, later retiring to the Bazyn family farm in Chelsea, where he enjoyed country living.

Lee worked as a policeman in Coggon, then as a machinist at Fisher Controls, SH Machinery and Central Iowa Machine Shop. For 11 years, he and Kathy enjoyed working on the Julia Belle Swain and the Spirit of Peoria riverboats. From deckhand, Lee rose to assistant steam engineer as well as being (in his own words) “the entire banjo department.” Afterwards, for several years he helped on the J.A. White riverboat in Des Moines.

He was an active member of the Hope United Methodist Church in Marshalltown, where he sang in the choir. He was a very talented musician, writing some of his own songs, and loved playing and singing with guitar, banjo, dobro and drums. He was kind, caring and fun to be around, a great storyteller with a delightful sense of humor, making a good impression on everyone who met him.

He was proceeded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife Kathy.

A memorial service will be 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, at Hrabak-Neuhaus Funeral Service, Belle Plaine. Inurnment will be held at Rector Cemetery, Chelsea, Iowa.

Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the family. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.neuhausfuneralservice.com.