S. Lee Pfohl

S. Lee Pfohl, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather died Monday morning November 23, 2015, at the age of 89, in Independence, MO. He is survived by children Bruce (Judy) Pfohl, Sharon (David) Crochet, and Tim (Julie) Pfohl, grandchildren Lindsay Crochet and Michael (Melissa) Pfohl and great granddaughter Lorelei Pfohl. He was preceded in death earlier this year by Lois, his beloved wife of 65 years.

Lee was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, on June 27, 1926, the son of Stanley and Evelyn Pfohl. Lee had an older sister, Grace who preceded him in death and a younger brother, Roger.

He entered the Navy at age 18 where he served for two years from 1944-1946.
At 20 years of age he met his wife, Lois, at a church service when he visited her congregation for the first time while on leave from the Navy. Lois and Lee were married shortly after she turned 18 years of age and he was 23. Lee received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Buffalo shortly after his marriage to Lois and his Master of Arts in Religious Studies from the University of Kansas in 1983.

They became increasingly involved with what is currently the Community of Christ church after Lee was ordained as a lay minister and then soon after he was appointed as a full time missionary. Lois and Lee initially served the church in Michigan and were later reassigned to church work in Ontario, Canada, where they lived for 9 years. They then relocated to Lamoni, Iowa, in 1970 when Lee took a position as campus minister of Graceland College. Lee was well loved by the college students and many of them have shared with the family what an enormous impact Lee had on their lives at a critical time in their development.

Lee and Lois relocated to Independence, Missouri, in 1975 when Lee took an assignment working in the newly developed Temple School Program. Lee retired from full-time church appointment in 1982 after serving for more than 25 years.
The church brought them together and remained a central focus of their lives throughout their 65 years of marriage. In 1993 Lee and Lois retired and moved into the Hidden Valley Club retirement community where a number of their church friends already lived. They were active in the community and enjoyed socializing which often took the form of Canasta games. Lee loved to tease people and he had a dry sense of humor. You could count on Lee to be there when you needed help and support. He made a real mark in this world and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

A memorial service for Lee will be held after the holidays.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Crossroads Hospice, 14310 E 42nd St. S, Independence, MO 64055 or Outreach International, 129 W. Lexington, Independence, MO 64050.