Obituary

Lee Roy Champion, 80, of Chicago, IL, passed away on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, at Illinois Masonic Hospital. Lee Roy was born on November 21, 1935, to Emil and Louise (Waterbrook) Champion in Marinette, WI. Lee Roy spent 30 years as a commercial fisherman on Lake Michigan, working for the family business in Marinette, and then for Joe’s Fishery in Chicago. Lee Roy retired from fishing in 1982, and then took a job with the City of Chicago Traffic Court. He retired from that position in 2000. Lee Roy was married to Caroline Chernovsky in Marinette, WI, in 1952, and together they had eight children. In 1972, he married Lillian Martin, in Chicago, IL, and together they raised two sons. Lee Roy is survived by his sister, Sandra Peterson (Ralph); his children, Bruce (Laurie); Barbara; Bonnie (Cecil Howard); Brian; Bradley (Janet); Brett; Larry; Lee; Brenda; and daughter-in-law, Mary; 17 grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Carol Champion, Georgia Champion and Grace Avram, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Lee Roy was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Lillian, who passed away on April 6, 1994; brothers Raymond and Alvin; sister, Helen; son, Barry; and grandson, Cecil, Jr. A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2016, at the North Shore SDA Church at 5220 N. California Avenue, Chicago, IL, with Pastor Reuel Bacchus presiding. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made in Lee Roy’s name to the North Shore SDA Church. Burial will be at Montrose Cemetery, 5400 N. Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL. Lakeview Funeral Home in Chicago, IL, is assisting the family.