Howard W. Lee, 71, of Belvidere, died Wednesday, December 3, 2008 in O.S.F. St. Anthony Medical Center following a sudden illness. He was born October 5, 1937 in Belvidere, IL; the son of Ellsworth and Ella (Blank) Lee. He was the Owner of Howard Lee and Sons Inc., Cherry Valley, Illinois. Howard was a member of the V.F.W. John Hugo Kaiser Belvidere Post #1461; the American Legion Boone Post #77; the Loyal Order of the Moose Belvidere Lodge #295 and the Belvidere local of the UAW. In his spare time, he enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing and playing the slot machines. He is survived by five children, Michael Lee; Vicky (Michael) Buhl; Terry (Karen Meister) Lee; Kevin (Penny) Lee and Tim (Kim) Lee, all of Belvidere; fourteen grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Shirley (Robert) Myers, Garden Prairie, IL.; Ruth Romans, Belvidere; a brother, Russell Lee, Poplar Grove, IL.; and two sisters-in-law, Ethel Lee and Shirley Lee. Howard is preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Charlotte Lee; six brothers, Emory, Raymond, Kenneth, Gordon, Stan and Robert Lee.