As a young boy‚ Lee lived a block away from the fire station. When the alarm would sound‚ Lee would run to the end of the block and watch the fire trucks roll out of the station. As he waited to turn twenty-one to join the fire department‚ he filled his other passion for racing. He started with go-carts at the age of five‚ often placing first. Then the go-carts turned to stock cars‚ which Lee raced and built. Winning most of the races in his G4orce car‚ he had a huge fan base. Lee also was recognized for the rollover simulator he built.
His interests and achievements are too many to list. He owned Lee Grubor Welding with his wife‚ Mary Lou. They shared a daughter‚ Candy‚ and three grandchildren‚ Kierstin‚ Stephanie‚ and Coltin‚ whom Lee referred to as his best friends. Lee loved to give people nicknames‚ especially his wife. He loved to joke around with his many friends. He was very funny and loved to laugh. At the time of his death‚ he was in the process of remodeling his home.
Lee loved everything about the fire department. He was a diver when water rescue was needed and was named ‘Firefighter of the Year’ in 1995. He was chosen for a ride along with the arson investigator‚ which he felt was a great honor. Lee loved helping everyone; they didn’t even have to ask. He was working on plans to rebuild the fire station. He loved to spec a fire truck.
On March 22‚ 2008‚ a little after midnight‚ Lee returned home from mutual aid on a structure fire. He told his granddaughter Stephanie goodnight and that he loved her and would see her in the morning. He talked to his wife about the fire and his plans for the next day. He went into cardiac arrest and died from a massive heart attack a couple hours later in the ER. Lee was 42 years old.
Deputy Chief Lee Grubor will be forever missed and loved by his family and friends.
My brother loved the fire dept. It deeply hurts that a memorial has not been dedicated to everything he gave to his fellow firefighters. He designed and spec’d out the “new” fire station as well as the Engine that bears his memorial stickers. Sadly, during the Homecoming Parade (2021), the football players (and the Engine Driver) riding on the engine didn’t know who he was.
– Donna Grubor-Bowling