Lee E. Holliston

Lee E. Holliston, 89, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, April 13, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of laughter, kindness, and a well-timed joke for just about any occasion. Born on October 29, 1936, in Sublette, Illinois, to Everett and FayeBelle (Keeler) Holliston, Lee grew up in Belvidere, Illinois, where he graduated from Belvidere High School. He later attended Illinois State University before proudly serving his country in the United States Navy for nearly five years.

On September 17, 1965, Lee married the love of his life, Rochelle (Wascher) Holliston. Together, they built a life full of love, faith, and plenty of laughter, raising their two children, Kent and Jill. In 2012, Lee stepped into his favorite role yet—“Opa”—when his granddaughter Basil was born, a role he embraced with immense pride and joy.

Lee dedicated nearly 30 years of his career to Sundstrand as an Overhaul Process Engineer. Even in retirement, he wasn’t one to sit still—he went on to work another 14 years with Advanced Machine and Engineering as a delivery driver, continuing to do what he did best: connect and laugh with people wherever he went.

To know Lee was to be greeted like an old friend—even if you had just met him. He never met a stranger, only future punchlines and fast friends. With a twinkle of mischief in his eye and an endless supply of jokes (truly, endless), Lee had a way of making every room lighter, louder, and a whole lot more joyful. If you walked away from a conversation with him without smiling, he probably just hadn’t had enough time yet.

Lee loved God deeply and lived that love out loud. He was a constant and joyful presence at church—singing in the choir, building and painting sets, and jumping into mission work whenever he could. If the doors were open, Lee was there. And for the last decade, at City First Church, he made sure that anyone walking through those doors felt seen and welcomed—usually within seconds—thanks to his big smile and even bigger personality.

He also found joy in the great outdoors, especially on trips to the Boundary Waters in Minnesota, where he embraced the challenge of “roughing it” (with just enough storytelling to make it memorable). He eventually included his son Kent on those trips. He cherished time canoeing and fishing with his best pal Ron, where faith, friendship, and a few good fish tales went hand in hand.

Lee is survived by his loving wife, Rochelle; his son, Kent; his daughter-in-law, Rhema; his granddaughter, Basil; his daughter, Jill; and sister-in-law, Phyllis Nilsen. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, William (Maxine) and Doug (Carol) Holliston; and brother-in-law, Tom Nilsen.

Lee’s life was marked by joy, generosity, and a deep love for people. He leaves behind a world that is a little quieter—but far better—because of the laughter he shared and the lives he touched. His family is certain of one thing: heaven just got a whole lot more lively.

Memorial service will be at 12:00 noon with a visitation from 10:00am until the time of the service on Saturday, April 18, 2026 in City First Church, 5950 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, IL 61114.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the family.

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