Leroy Block

Lee Block LeRoy Lee Block, age 87, 123 Comenius Ct, died of cancer on Sunday September 12, 2010 at his home His body will be cremated at Schmutzler Vick Funeral Home and Cremation Service. A memorial service will be held on Saturday September 25, 2010 at First Congregational UCC on Kuckkan Lane at 10:30 A.M. with visitation at the church from 9:30 10:30 A.M. If desired, memorials may be directed to the charity of ones choice. Online condolences may be left at watertownwifuneralhome.com. Lee was born August 5, 1923, in Watertown, son of Arthur and Marcella (Buntrock) Block. He was a graduate of St. Johns Lutheran School and Watertown High School, class of 1941.During World War II, Lee served 3 years in the Army Air Corps as a B-17 radio operator, and later, B-29 radio operator in the Western Flying Training Command. Following the war, he resumed his education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, graduating in 1949 with a major in public relations and journalism. He was a member of Sigma Delta Chi, professional journalism fraternity Block was an employee of the Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Publishing Company of New York for 46 years. He served as a textbook representative and educational consultant in New York City and the Midwest during his tenure. He was a former executive secretary of the Wisconsin Professional Bookman of America In 1953 he married Virginia Dinny Soper in Emmetsburg, Iowa. They were married for 57 years. They had 5 sons: Jim, Jon, Cory, Thomas, and Todd. Lee was a 50+ member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ and served as a trustee, landscape chairman, and long-time member of its choir. He was a 10-year member and former president of the Watertown Unified School Board. During his tenure, Riverside Middle School was built. Prior to this school board service, he had led a successful community campaign to change Watertowns school board organization from its former 19 member representation from the citys 14 wards and five townships. That change resulted in the present school board size and the at-large rather than area representation. Block was a long-time member of the Watertown Historical Society, and was its president for 10 years including the time when the Mollart Tour Center was built. An avid golfer, he was a past director of the Watertown Country Club and a member for over 60 years. He was a volunteer and member of the Board of Directors of the Watertown Food Pantry. Lee had a special lifelong affinity for trees. He was a planner and planter of most of the trees on the new nine at the Watertown Country Club, the seven acres of the First Congregational Church grounds, and his former home and property on S. Concord Avenue. Survivors include his wife, Virginia; brothers Tom (Kathy) of White River Arizona and Roger (Phyllis), Watertown; sister, Carol, Milwaukee; and three sons, James (Rene), Minneapolis, Cory (Judy), Mequon, Jonathon, Orcas Island, WA, and four grandchildren, Alex, Greta, Erika, and Sarah. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sons, Thomas and Todd, and one sister, Betty.