Locations
StaffLife Story Funeral Director
lkarelse@lifestorynet.com
Lee truly enjoys people, meeting them, getting to know them and learning about their lives and families. His desire to help people, a natural inclination to interact with people and steer them through a difficult time are just the skill set that a life story funeral director needs.
Born and raised in Grand Rapids, the lone boy in a family of four, Lee had a memorable childhood. Attending Creston Mayfield Christian Elementary, as a youngster his life was one of wonderful family times; summers at Sand Lake and memorable family vacations to the great landmarks of our country, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Mt. Rushmore. Summers were also spent mowing lawns at the summer resort at Sand Lake, from 4th. grade through college. Formative years of fun and learning mixed with work; the type of balance that creates a person who can lend balance to families at their time of loss. Lee went on to get his degree at Calvin College. Sometime in his sophomore year his ideas of being a doctor changed to being a funeral director. Following graduation he attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science and served his internship with Heritage.
Lots of good things happen when you attend church; for Lee one of those was meeting his wife Kelli there. He had to side step a boyfriend but easily won her heart. Kelli is the balance for Lee, her openness, and joy help temper his organized and disciplined ways. They were married October 16, 1999, Sweetest Day. The highlights of their life together are their daughters Emilee born in 2001 and Molly born in 2003. Lee loves his family life and off days are still filled with being on the water, skiing, fishing or playing with the girls. A member of the Mars Hill Bible Church, Lee ushers there and enjoys the way the pastor makes things relevant for people from all walks of life. No surprise there; that's exactly what Lee does as a life story funeral director. When someone dies, he helps their family create a ceremony that is relevant to the life that was lived.
Lee Karelse, a man who loves his family and feels blessed to have a profession where he can touch peoples' lives.
Born and raised in Grand Rapids, the lone boy in a family of four, Lee had a memorable childhood. Attending Creston Mayfield Christian Elementary, as a youngster his life was one of wonderful family times; summers at Sand Lake and memorable family vacations to the great landmarks of our country, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Mt. Rushmore. Summers were also spent mowing lawns at the summer resort at Sand Lake, from 4th. grade through college. Formative years of fun and learning mixed with work; the type of balance that creates a person who can lend balance to families at their time of loss. Lee went on to get his degree at Calvin College. Sometime in his sophomore year his ideas of being a doctor changed to being a funeral director. Following graduation he attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science and served his internship with Heritage.
Lots of good things happen when you attend church; for Lee one of those was meeting his wife Kelli there. He had to side step a boyfriend but easily won her heart. Kelli is the balance for Lee, her openness, and joy help temper his organized and disciplined ways. They were married October 16, 1999, Sweetest Day. The highlights of their life together are their daughters Emilee born in 2001 and Molly born in 2003. Lee loves his family life and off days are still filled with being on the water, skiing, fishing or playing with the girls. A member of the Mars Hill Bible Church, Lee ushers there and enjoys the way the pastor makes things relevant for people from all walks of life. No surprise there; that's exactly what Lee does as a life story funeral director. When someone dies, he helps their family create a ceremony that is relevant to the life that was lived.
Lee Karelse, a man who loves his family and feels blessed to have a profession where he can touch peoples' lives.
