Janet Arlene Lee, age 89, of Hillsdale, passed away Thursday, October 21, 2021, at Country Living in Hillsdale. She was born on December 8, 1931, in Detroit to Homer and Mary (Saettel) Leisenring. She married William Lee, of Hillsdale, on July 4, 1953, and he preceded her on March 23, 2017.

Janet graduated from Hudson High School in 1949 and went on to graduate from the University of Michigan School of Music and Wayne State University.

She was employed as a music teacher for the Berkley Public Schools and served as minister of music and arts for the Southfield Methodist Church, associate in music at the Royal Oak Methodist Church, minister of music and arts at the Clawson United Methodist Church and at the Hillsdale United Methodist Church. She is a retired ordained permanent Deacon in the Michigan Conference of The United Methodist Church and most recently served as a volunteer in music at the Jonesville UMC. Janet was a member of the National Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts and served a term as the 1st woman president of the organization she also served two terms as the president of the national organization of Jelly Jammers. She was a member of the Hillsdale Kiwanis, past co-president with her husband of Hillsdale Rotary, and a two-time Paul Harris awardee, a member and past president of Hillsdale Women’s Club, past president of AAUW, a past president and life member of Royal Oak Musical, and past Hillsdale County seniors service board member.

Janet is survived by five children: Sue (George) McManus of Augusta, Georgia, Bill (Linda) Lee of Auburn Hills, Patricia (Kevin) Trader of Warner, New Hampshire, Doug (Holli) Lee of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and Rick (Vickie) Lee of Pittsford, eleven grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; William, parents, a stepmother, Jane A. (Judd) Leisenring, and one grandson; William Lee.

A memorial service and visitation took place at the VanHorn-Eagle Funeral Home in Hillsdale with Rev. Curtis Jensen officiating. Burial followed at Sand Lake Valley Cemetery. 
 
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Music Programs of Perennial Park Senior Service Center, Addison Senior Center, Jonesville UMC music department or the Hillsdale Boy Scouts Troop #174. Arrangements are entrusted to the VanHorn-Eagle Funeral Home in Hillsdale.
 
Condolences may be shared online at https://www.eaglefuneralhomes.com/