Lee Atkins

Lee Stanton Atkins, age 77, Of Superior, Wisconsin and Siloam Springs, Arkansas passed away on April 26, 2010 due to a car accident in Northern Burnett County, Wisconsin. Lee was born on January 17, 1933 in Wauwautosa, Wisconsin. Lee served in the US Navy and was a veteran of the Korean War. At the age of 19, he sailed on the USS Delta. Lee's hobbies included reading books on historical gangsters. His favorite was John Dillinger. He enjoyed reading how anxiously J. Edgar Hoover wanted Dillinger's hide. He used to laugh, as he told stories about what he had read. Another one of his favorites was Bell Starr. If there were any historical sites between Superior and Siloam Springs, Lee had stopped there to enjoy the history. Lee was known by his friends in Siloam Springs as "The Duck Man". He acquired this nickname because he gave unselfishly to feed ducks along Sager Creek during the winter months. During the worst weather conditions: ice and snow, Lee still fed the ducks daily. A special thank you goes to Grady Lamb for providing the bread for Lee to feed the ducks. "Quackity Quack, Yakity Yak," is how he called for the "Old Gander" and the rest of the flock would follow. With bad hips and back, Lee never missed a day of feeding. Lee was honored with a plaque from the Siloam Springs Parks and Recreation for his generosity to the city. He was a happy man. Lee always looked forward to coming to his Sourthern Home during the winter seasons. He loved our way of cooking. He used to tease about Southern hospitality and our Southern language, i.e. "I reckon' and what fer' and Jonnie's CORNbread." He attended church and relied on the power of prayer and healing, especially on his hips and back. Lee's faith in God gave him comfort. Lee was a great friend and he will be dearly missed. We were very fortunate to have shared a part of our lives with Lee and his with us. We pray, "God, please take care of Lee and some day we'll all meet again." Lee is survived by his Siloam Springs' friends, Janette Hayes and Jonnie Ware. Funeral services were held on Friday, May 7, 2010 at Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home in Webster, Wisconsin. Interment followed at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Online condolences may be offered at www.swedberg-taylor.com.