LeRoy A. Altermatt, age 85, of Grand Marais, and formerly of Minneapolis, passed away on Friday, December 18, 2015. Lee was born on November 18, 1930, in Minneapolis, to Bernard and Mildred Altermatt.
Lee graduated from Edison High School in 1948 and from the University of Minnesota in 1952 with a degree in political science.
Lee was a beloved partner, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and is survived by his partner Ora Lind; his children Steve Altermatt and Holly Harwig; his grandchildren Matthew Anderson, Heather McCollum, Ryan Altermatt, Eva Altermatt, and Madeline Young; his great-grandchildren Xavier Anderson, Everitt Anderson, Sullivan Anderson, Liam McCollum, Porter McCollum, and one more great-grandchild on the way; his brother James Altermatt and his family; and many cousins.
Lee worked at the Prudential for 40 years, from the time he graduated from college until retiring in 1992.
Lee cherished time spent with his family and will be missed by all who knew and loved him. He had an incredible sense of humor, believed in equal rights for all, and was generous with time and resources to many charities. Outside of work Lee spent a lot of time in the performing arts, acting in various community theatre productions, and was a terrific singer with a beautiful bass voice. He sang in many groups over the years including the Minneapolis Choralaires, SPEBSQSA (the society of Barbershop Quartet Singing), the Knights of Harmony, the opera Horsefall performed at the Guthrie Theatre, the Dale Warland Symphonic Chorus, the Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company, and was a soloist in several church choirs, including choirs at Brooklyn United Methodist Church, Peace Lutheran Church, the Plymouth Festival Church, and the First Congregational Church in Grand Marais.
Lee also served our country in the Navy Reserve.
In a final act of generosity, Lee donated his body for research to the University of Minnesota Medical School as part of the Anatomy Bequest Program. There will not be a service or memorial held, the family will assemble privately at a later date to honor this kind, loving, generous, brave, smart, and sweet man.
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