Gottlieb Peter (Lee) Brockel

Gottlieb Peter (Lee) Brockel, 88, died March 29, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Known as Lee to his friends and family, he was born to William and Barbara Brockel in Vananda, Montana, but lived the majority of his life in Whitefish.

Lee was a business owner (Lincoln Cleaners), fire chief, councilman, king (Winter Carnival), bowler and Yeti; but those are just titles. Most importantly he was a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend. He cared about everyone he met. We know that because he listened and he shared, but didn’t judge. Lee’s list of achievements and interests were long, but likely he was most proud of his bowling, his beer brewing, his garden, his wife, his daughters and his grandsons.

He was preceded in death by his parents, all his siblings, his soul mate Jolene, son William, and daughter Vickie Brockel. He is survived by daughter Teri Sunell and her husband Conway from Las Vegas, grandsons Joel Barranger, wife Angie and beautiful great-grandaughter Ava from Portland; Kellen Barranger, wife Morning Dove and awesome great-grandson Hendricks also from Portland. There are also countless nieces and nephews in the Great Northwest.

Services in Whitefish will be planned for late July where friends and family can celebrate the life of a wonderful man.