Anderson Funeral Home
Homeserving families for over 60 years
312 South Stone St.
Augusta, WI 54722
715-286-2222
Leland Pettis
Leland I. Pettis, 87, “Lee” formerly of Augusta, Waukesha and Altoona, passed away early Thursday evening July 19, 2018 at the Dove Healthcare in Osseo.
Leland Ivan Pettis, son of Ivan and Vada (Daniels) Pettis was born at home in Otter Creek Township on Oct. 24, 1930. He was raised in the township with his 11 siblings and attended Pride County School and graduated from Augusta High School in 1949. He was baptized Methodist at the Pettis family farm. On Nov. 21, 1949, Lee was united in marriage to Betty Ann Rice. The couple lived a short time with Lee’s folks before moving to West Allis, where Lee was employed at Allis Chalmers. He then worked for several years on the Preidman Farm in Waukesha, before farming for himself in Mukwonago. He eventually took a job with RTE Corporation in Waukesha, and worked there until semi retiring in the late 1980’s and moving back to the Town of Otter Creek. Lee enjoyed keeping busy so after his move back to Augusta, he worked at the Industrial Waste Plant, drove milk truck, and school bus for the AugustaSchool District. About 15 years after moving back to the area they moved to Altoona, and he quickly became involved volunteering at the Eau Claire Food Pantry. This job led to his final employment working at Festival Foods in Eau Claire, where he enjoyed bagging the groceries and visiting with the clientele. Through the years Lee and Betty opened their home and hearts to many foster children through the agencies in Waukesha and Eau Claire counties. They shared their home and nurtured all ages of children from newborns to young adults. Five of their foster children became a very important part of their family and instead of 2 sons,Lee and Betty had 7 children. Lee had 2 major hobbies during his life that he truly enjoyed, and that was coon hunting and deer hunting with all of his relatives. He also enjoyed a friendly game of cards.
Lee will be dearly missed by Betty, his loving wife of 68 years; 5 sons, Kenneth Pettis (Darlene Pesicek) of Palmyra, Terry Pettis (Susan Pettis) of Augusta, John (Teresa) Lysaght, Charles (Nancy) Lysaght all of East Troy, Richard Lysaght of Altoona, Kathy Eales of Elk Horn, Brenda Pettis of Augusta; 13 grandchildren and several great grandchildren; brother, Ellis (Marjorie) Pettis of Augusta; 4 sisters, Lorena Berry-Ginther of Augusta, Linda (Edwin) Harmon of Austin, MN, Virginia (Dean ) Schwoch of Augusta, Harriet (Daryl) Dehnke of Eau Claire; 3 sisters-in-law, Marcella Pettis, Beverly Pettis and Jo Kolpien all of Augusta; daughter-in-law, Ellen Steig of Janesville;many nieces nephews and other relatives.
Lee was preceded in death by his parents,Ivan and Vada; daughter Melody Ann Pettis in 1961; daughters-in-law, Janet Pettis, Carolee Pettis; and brothers, Clarence, James, Everett, Ivan Jr. “Bill”, Ervin and Gerald Pettis.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta. Friends may call Wednesday from 10 a.m. and until time of services at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date in North Prairie, Wisconsin.
Online condolences can be left at www.andersonfhaugusta.com
