Lee Maickel

Leo “Lee” Maickel, 78 ,a longtime resident of St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, February 26, 2006 at Lakeland Continuing Care in Berrien Center. Lee was born in New York, and upon his graduation from Sewanhaka High School, entered the U.S. Air Force. He served three years in the South Pacific during WWII. Upon his return home, he entered U.C.L.A. graduating with honors. He moved to the twin cities in 1962 and immediately opened James Lee, a gift shop, on State Street. In 1971, he sold James Lee and opened “Design Council” an interior design firm. In 1964, Maickel joined the Twin Cities Players and for the next 25 years served as their top director. He was also a member of the Berrien Arts Guild, now the Box Factory for the Arts, the Krasl Art Center Chamber of Commerce, and the Twin Cities Symphony. Lee is survived by four sisters, Florence of Parma, OH, Agnes of Hicksville, NY, Sr. Ave Maria of Brentwood, NY, and T.C. Blackshaw, the author, of Ocala, FL. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Michigan.