Lee Conant

Lee Conant, 85, was born in Rockford and attended East High School. He left school before graduating to join the Army where he spent time in Korea and earned his GED. After serving, Lee came back to Rockford and got a job at Chrysler, quickly working his way up to foreman. Lee married Sandy Jones in 1965 and welcomed twin boys, Scott and Todd in 1967 and a girl, Kaylee, in 1970. Lee and Sandy divorced and Lee found love again, marrying Alice Cork in 1979. They were happily married until her passing in May 2020. After Lee retired from Chrysler, he found he could not sit still. He continued working a variety of jobs for various venders which kept him going out to the Belvidere plant until very recently. Love struck again when he met Karen Samuelson. They spent Lee’s last few years wintering in Florida and going to many car shows in and around Illinois and Wisconsin.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Jane Conant; and his wife, Alice Cork-Conant. He is survived by his sons, Scott (Brenda) Conant of Dillon, CO, and Todd (Stacy) Conant of Elizabethtown, KY; daughter, Kaylee (Raphael) Diaz of Rockford, IL; grandson, Daniel Diaz of Rockford, IL; Karen Samuelson of Machesney Park, IL; and best friend since kindergarten, Nick Mangiaracina of Rockford, IL. He will be missed by many friends who loved him dearly.

Per Lee’s wishes, no funeral will take place but a celebration of life is being planned at VFW Post 2955 in Roscoe, IL in conjunction with a car show sometime in Spring/Summer 2025.

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