Earl Lee, 85, of Washington, passed away at 3:33pm Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Earl was born on April 1, 1941, in Sullivan to the late Kenneth and Florence Crockett Lee, growing up in West Peoria. He married Carol A. Guilfoyle on September 11, 1965 at Sacre Coeur Catholic Church in Creve Coeur; she survives.

Also surviving are their sons, Joe Lee (Kristen Lynn) and Dan (Tricia) Lee; grandchildren, Brooke Lee, Jaden Lee, Matthew (Ashley) Church, Michael (Nicole) Church, and Luke Lynn; his brother, Francis (Laura) Lee; sisters-in-law, Joan Henry, Karen Wheeler, and Pat Guilfoyle; son-in-law, Scott (Rebecca) Church; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was also preceded in death by his daughter, Jeannie Church; sisters, Jolene Clark and Vicki Bunker; brothers-in-law, Rich Wheeler, John Guilfoyle, Bob Henry, and Dave Clark; and his parents-in-law, Howard and Lucille Guilfoyle.

Earl served in the Air National Guard from 1963-1969 before he began working at the Kroger Warehouse, where he worked for 30 years; he also worked for Caterpillar in Morton for 5 years. In his retirement, he kept busy working at the Newman and Madison Golf Courses, volunteering for the Retreat and Refresh Stroke Group, working part-time at Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory for 18 years, and wintering in Texas until recently. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church since 1969, where he volunteered for the Senior Potluck and was a long time member of the Washington Knights of Columbus and 4th degree Spalding Council.

A funeral Mass will be at 11:00am Saturday, April 25, 2026 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Washington. Father John Steffen will officiate. Visitation will be from 9:00am-10:45am Saturday, April 25, 2026 at the church. Inurnment will be at Glendale Cemetery in Washington.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Illinois CancerCare Foundation in memory of Jeannie Church or to St. Patrick School.