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Born September 7, 1925 to Catherine and Carl Neubauer in Waterloo, Iowa, it is a justly intimidating task to try and capture with completeness the many, many things that Lee accomplished in her long, rich, much admired life. Equally intimidating is to embrace here an understanding of the huge circle of people that Lee connected with, influenced and who made up her worlds in the various places she lived. Lee was loved by so very many… for her generosity, loyalty, kindness, wit and astounding abundance of talent as a contralto with few peers. However, despite the difficulty in capturing so much about someone whose life was writ so large, it is surprisingly easy to say what Lee’s greatest achievement was: she married Stephen Hobson, the love of her life, on June 11, 1944 in Waterloo, Iowa. From there spins out the rest of her amazing story.

Lee was educated at Iowa Teachers College, now University of Northern Iowa, studying voice with Professor W.E. Hayes. She also studied with Eugene Dressler at Northwestern University and Harold Stark at University of Iowa. Lee’s truly gargantuan talent, judicious training, and hard work afforded her the opportunity to become a frequent soloist with the University of Iowa Orchestra, Cedar Rapids Symphony, Midland Symphony, Central Michigan Symphony, performing works such as Bach’s “Passion to St. John,” Verdi’s “Requiem,” Mendelsohn’s “Elijah,” Handel’s “Messiah,” and Mozart’s “Requiem.” She was a frequent recitalist with her husband, Stephen, at Northeast Missouri State Teacher’s College, now Truman University, and at Central Michigan University. Their performances in the annual “High Fever Follies” were legendary.

Lee moved to Mount Pleasant, Michigan in 1963 where her husband, Steve, was Director of Choral Activities for Central Michigan University for 20 years. She found in her spare time that she loved birding and golf, at which she was quite good. Lee was a consummate hostess of the first order. She and Steve hosted many, many parties in their home over the years for their many friends. Those parties were often filled with a motley crue of Steve’s CMU music students, dubbing their home ‘The 905 Club’.

Lee had something special granted to few; she was a leader and in so being gave of herself to the community of Mt. Pleasant. She was a Mount Pleasant Public Library board member; President of the CMCH Auxiliary Board; President of South Neighbors Action Group (SNAG); a 50 year member of the PEO sisterhood, and served as President of Chapter EC; an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Mount Pleasant.

Lee is survived by 3 children who loved her deeply: Stephen (Sharon) Hobson, Jr., Michael (Teresa) Hobson and Katherine (Tim) Smith; 6 grandchildren, Lisa (Kevin) McMahon, Stephen (Alanda Coon) Hobson, III., Malcolm (Diana) Lightner, Kimberly (Hugh) Reed, Tessa Smith and Timothy Smith who adored her because she was playful, devoted, creative and nurturing. She was thrilled to have 7 great-grandchildren, Olivia, Chloe, Ella, Finnegan, Grayson, Saffron, and Colton.

Lee was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 47 years, Stephen, sisters Eva and Helen, brothers Carl and Herb, nieces Kathleen, Judith, Sharon, and nephew Herb.

This task is inherently sad, because an obit means someone dear has died. But it’s so much more because it affords us a deep look back into our own history to celebrate a life loved, a life lived magnificently, a life that touched so many.

A Memorial Service for Lee will be held at Clark Family Funeral Chapel on Sunday, June 10 at 4 p.m. with Pastor Andrew Miller officiating. A reception will follow at Reflections Reception Center. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, her family requests donations to PEO Sisterhood Chapter EC, PO Box 467, Edmore, MI 48829, for their educational fund.

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