Lee Wade, of Vienna, was born on January 19, 1935, at Kansas City, Kansas, a son of John Mathias and Edna May (Rector) Wade, and departed this life at 9:57 p.m., on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, in the Maries Manor Health and Rehabilitation Center in Vienna. Mr. Wade had been in failing health due to suffering a stroke in January of 2016 and had attained the age of 81 years, 3 months, and 15 days.

Lee was united in marriage on September 23, 1978, at Hillsboro, to Minnie Oliva Curtis, who preceded her husband in death on March 9, 2007; he was also preceded in death by his father, John, on March 30, 1970; his mother, Edna, on December 23, 2001; his grandparents, John Arthur and Katie Wade, who raised him from an early age; 2 step-sons, Gary C. Stewart on August 3, 2006, and Michael Stewart; one half-brother, Ralph Brashear, in 2006; and one sister-in-law, Jean Wade.

At 10 years of age, Lee was baptized while attending the Valley Park United Methodist Church in St. Louis County. During his working life, he had worked as a mechanic and self-employed general contractor in the building construction industry for 38 years prior to moving to Vienna in 1990. Lee enjoyed hunting and especially working on and fixing up antique cars, trucks, and tractors, where his skills as a mechanic came in very handy.

Those left to mourn the passing of Lee include: one son, David Wade, Vienna; three step-sons, Larry (Connie) Stewart, Union; Dale (Tori) Stewart, Valley Park, and Allen (Pam) Stewart, House Springs; one daughter, Joyce (Allan) Hansel, Branson; one step-daughter, Donna Loper, Salem; one brother, Wayne Wade, Fenton; two half-brothers, Gary Brashear and Jerry Dale Brashear; three half-sisters, Charlotte Mann, Carolyn Maxwell, and Judy Brashear; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.