Erwin Lee, better known as “Bushwacker” was born on June 27, 1941, to Leo Kunz and Mildred (Muehr) Kunz in Weimar.

He attended St. Michael’s Catholic School until his family moved to Houston. He went to Bellaire High School where he joined the ROTC, which introduced him to the military. His family then moved back to Weimar where he attended Bishop Forest High School.

After high school, Erwin Lee worked odd jobs until he joined the military. He enlisted in the Army in 1961 and was honorably discharged from serving overseas in Germany in 1964.

After returning home, he found his true love and married Mary Jane Pavlik on September 11, 1966, in St. Michael Catholic Church. They lived in Weimar where he worked as a plumber and an electrician. He eventually started his own business and continued working until he retired.

Erwin Lee enjoyed deer hunting. He belonged to one of the local deer camps known as Oncken’s Deer Camp for many years. Many weekends were spent down in the woods cooking, sharing stories, and preparing for the next deer season. He also made many hunting trips to Colorado. He took his last trip to Rifle, Colorado in October of 2019. He knew this was going to be his last trip and thanked his fellow hunters for getting him there.

In addition to hunting, Erwin Lee spent a lot of his time being involved in the VFW, the American Legion, and the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Erwin Lee is survived by his wife of fifty-eight years, Mary Jane Kunz; brother Alan Wayne Kunz; sister Joyce Rosenauer.

He was preceded in death by his parents Leo and Mildred Kunz and brother-inlaw Leroy Rosenauer.

Services will be held at Henneke Funeral Home in Columbus on Tuesday, March 18. The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. A memorial service will follow at 10:00 a.m.

Burial will be at St. Michael Catholic Cemetery in Weimar.

Honorary pallbearers are all the Weimar VFW, the American Legion, and the Vietnam Veterans of America.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Weimar Veterans, 503 Park Dr., Weimar, 78962, the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), P.O. Box 83, Schulenburg, 78956, or the charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be given at www.hennekefuneralhome. com.