WAWAKA – Lee Jay Pilz, 39, Wawaka, died unexpectedly Feb. 21, 2015, in Indianapolis. He was born March 29, 1975, in Elkhart, to Donald Lee Pilz and Anne Reidenbach. On Feb. 21, 2004, in Cancun, Mexico, he married Melissa Ann Jester Pilz, who survives in Wawaka. He graduated from Lakeland High School in 1993 and Purdue University in 1998 with a degree in turf management. He was the assistant golf course superintendent at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club. He was a groundskeeper there for the past 13 years. He loved playing golf, fishing and hunting, spending time with family and friends and traveling. Also surviving are three daughters: Amanda Pilz, Warsaw; Kayla and Briana Pilz, at home; his mother, Oliver Lake near Wolcottville; a sister, Rigel (and spouse Sean) Griffith, Temecula, Calif.; a niece, Rajah Griffith, Temecula; grandmother, Jean Reidenbach, Albion; an aunt, Maureen Reidenbach, Fort Wayne; four uncles: David (and spouse Myrna) Reidenbach, Wawaka; John (and spouse Patrice) Reidenbach, Fort Wayne; Charles and Owen Johnson, both of Ohio; and two aunts, Mae (and spouse Jim) Calvin and Shirley (and spouse Wade), all of Ohio. He was preceded in death by his father, who died June 4, 2008; three grandparents: Jay Reidenbach, who died June 10, 2014; and Gilbert and Beulah Pilz. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Hite Funeral Home, 403 S. Main Street, Kendallville. Calling is from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. ***** Memorials to college fund for his children, checks payable to Melissa Pilz. Condolences may be sent via www.hitefuneralhome.com
