John "Ponch" Lee
August 30, 1940 — February 18, 2016
John David “Ponch” Lee, Sr. was born August 30, 1940, at the family home on Vandalia Road in Des Moines, Iowa the son of Harry and Floreine (Maddison) Lee. He was raised by his grandparents William and Margaret (Pinegar) Maddison.
At the age of 11 Ponch and his family moved to Pershing where he lived the remainder of his life. On November 7, 1958 John was united in marriage to Monica Marie Marconi at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Knoxville. Ponch worked as a coal miner from 1957 – 1989 for Lovilia Coal, Superior Coal and Big D Coal. From 1989 until his retirement in 2004 he was a mechanic and paving superintendent for Manatts. He was proud of his work and always enjoyed his co-workers.
In his spare time, Ponch enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening. He was famous for his canned hot peppers. His greatest joy was his family, he especially loved watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow through the years.
Ponch passed away on Thursday, February 18, 2016 at the Knoxville Hospital & Clinics at the age of 75 years.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Bill & Margaret Maddison; mother, Floreine Stout; brother, Phil Maddison, Sr.; brother-in-law, Tony Marconi, Sr. and son-in-law, Dino Chenet.
Those left to cherish Ponch’s memory include his wife, Monica; children: Christie Lee, Gina (Brian) Hammann, John, Jr. (Tena), James (Valerie) Tina Chenet (Mark) and Kathy (Troy) White; 11 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; siblings: Jane (Gary) Clingman and Andy Maddison and many other family members and friends.
Funeral Services for John “Ponch” Lee, Sr., age 75 of Pershing, will be held on Monday, February 22, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at the Bybee & Davis Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will begin after 1:00 p.m. Sunday at the Bybee & Davis Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the Pershing Community Center. Online condolences may be left at BertrandFuneralHomes.com.
At the age of 11 Ponch and his family moved to Pershing where he lived the remainder of his life. On November 7, 1958 John was united in marriage to Monica Marie Marconi at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Knoxville. Ponch worked as a coal miner from 1957 – 1989 for Lovilia Coal, Superior Coal and Big D Coal. From 1989 until his retirement in 2004 he was a mechanic and paving superintendent for Manatts. He was proud of his work and always enjoyed his co-workers.
In his spare time, Ponch enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening. He was famous for his canned hot peppers. His greatest joy was his family, he especially loved watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow through the years.
Ponch passed away on Thursday, February 18, 2016 at the Knoxville Hospital & Clinics at the age of 75 years.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Bill & Margaret Maddison; mother, Floreine Stout; brother, Phil Maddison, Sr.; brother-in-law, Tony Marconi, Sr. and son-in-law, Dino Chenet.
Those left to cherish Ponch’s memory include his wife, Monica; children: Christie Lee, Gina (Brian) Hammann, John, Jr. (Tena), James (Valerie) Tina Chenet (Mark) and Kathy (Troy) White; 11 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; siblings: Jane (Gary) Clingman and Andy Maddison and many other family members and friends.
Funeral Services for John “Ponch” Lee, Sr., age 75 of Pershing, will be held on Monday, February 22, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at the Bybee & Davis Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will begin after 1:00 p.m. Sunday at the Bybee & Davis Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the Pershing Community Center. Online condolences may be left at BertrandFuneralHomes.com.
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