Charles L. Lee, 72, of Birmingham, IA passed away on January 12, 2026 at home surrounded by his family.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Lion’s Building in Birmingham on January 24, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Private burial of his cremains will be in Maple Hill Cemetery in Birmingham. Memorial contributions in Charlie’s memory may be directed to the family or SE Renal Dialysis and may be brought to the celebration of life or mailed to Peggy Lee, P.O. Box 284 Birmingham, IA 52535.
Charlie Lee was born on October 13, 1953 in Crookston, MN, to Raymond and Alice (Patterson) Lee. He was the baby of 11 children. He grew up in and around Grand Forks, ND and graduated from Grand Forks Central High in 1971. That same year both of his parents passed away and he moved to Ottumwa, IA to live with his sister and her family. That is where he met his first wife, Judith Lee. From that union he became the father of two daughters. They later divorced. In 1979, he married Peggy Crafton and gained a step-son whom he raised like his own. He always said it was “love at first sight”.
He worked at Chain and Cable, Centro Inc., Pacon and Rock Tenn. He was co-owner of the bar in Birmingham with his wife for 5 years. In 2013 he was sadly forced to retire due to his health. He loved old hot rods, appaloosa horses, owning several over the years, and his fur-buddy Pepper.
Left to honor his memory are his wife, Peggy Lee, two daughters, Kristina Vest and Janice Lee, a son, Travis (Elizabeth) Dimmitt, eight grandchildren, Mattie, Charlie, Henry, Payton, Alex, Trenton, Zoe, and Carson, a great-granddaughter, Berlin, two brothers, Clifford (Joanne) Lee and Terry Lee and his oldest friend and brother from another mother, Danny Nelson. He was preceded in death by six brothers, two sisters, and his parents.
