From  Anna, Lee's Wife:

I’ve shared only with family and a few precious prayer partners the nature of my husband’s battle with manic depression disorder during the last six years of his life. Many of you here are probably very surprised of his decision last Friday. My request to you is that you make any judgments of him based on the blessing of his life and not on that decision.

Even amidst the pain of his anguished depression, he clung to His Savior and Lord Jesus Christ knowing that his own strength was not sufficient to the task. I cannot explain his death, but I can claim the victory he already had in Christ before it. He knew that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Lee is now with His Lord, free of pain, fear and doubts.

I am most grateful for the privilege of having Lee in my life for the last 34 years. We met when he was a freshman at Santa Clara University and married 2 weeks after his graduation from there as a mechanical engineer. He then worked at Underwriters Laboratories for 2 years when he decided to create a niche for himself by helping companies comply with safety standards. He started Safety Engineering Laboratories in 1971 and was blessed by the fact that our son chose to join him in 1992 when he first became ill. Though the last six years have been challenging ones, our son was both willing and able to learn from his dad, the master.

Lee was bright, creative, honest, generous, patient and kind. He could fix anything, build anything and would try anything. He hunted, fished, canoed, camped, swam, read, rode motorcycles and much more. He loved me and he loved his son and was never afraid to express it. He had so many small, but significant ways about him that I will miss - like jumping into my side of our bed at night to warm up my place for me. Like holding my hand, my arm, my head as we fell asleep each night. Like sitting outside on our patio swing. He did things for me that he’d never mention, but I would realize later that he had done.

I could go on about Lee forever, and in my heart and mind, I probably will do that for a very long time. I especially want to express the delight Lee had in his son and niece and nephews, Adam, Sean, Casey and Carly. There was nothing Lee enjoyed more than joining you in your childhood as he so often did with complete abandon!

Our loss is great, but our God is greater. I have already seen Him work around my son and I through many of you, and I expect Him to be with us as our healing from this awful tragedy takes place. For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. We know that and Lee knew that...he is now at peace in the arms of His Lord.

Prayer from Casey and Carly Wahl, His Nephew and Niece:

Dear Father God,

Hi, it’s us - Casey and Carly. Thank you for the time we had with Bigalee. We loved him very much. We remember when he played with us all the time. He always took us to places we wanted to go, our favorite place was Toys R’ Us.

When we heard Bigalee died, we got very sad and there are some things we don’t understand. Please help us when we’re sad, help us when we’re lonely and mad, and help us if we get upset. We wanted him to come to our house, but instead, he went to your house.

Thank you for opening the door to Heaven for Bigalee, thank you for making Heaven safe and happy so we don’t have to worry about him. We want to feel safe and happy too.

Please take care of our family, especially Anna and young Lee, and help us through the sad, hard times, ‘cause we know sometime later we will feel happy again.

Thank you, again, for Bigalee. We will be talking to You again, God, real soon.

Amen.

From Carol Wahl, Lee’s (favorite) Sister-In-Law:

Big Lee has been around since I was two years old. I don’t remember a time without him.

A lifetime of memories - he was so good to me and our whole family. He was the most generous man I’ve ever known - the extent of his generosity will probably never be known. His presence reminded me of a strong silence, always there. He was a rock in our family, part of the foundation.

I hope you knew how much we all loved you - I’m sure you do now. You loved my kids like they were your own. I’m so sorry for the suffering that you endured. I know now your pain is gone. I know Jesus gave you a big bear hug when you came together.

I wish I could have said "thank you" for all you’ve done.

I miss you Big Lee with a pain I’ve never felt before.

Wait for us in Heaven.

From Adam Costa, Lee’s 17-Year-Old Nephew:

Big Lee was the best teacher a kid could ever hope for. As I write this a tear fills my eye; it is a tear that has not been shed for quite some time, saved up for some occasion I hoped and prayed would never occur. But here it is. Big Lee taught me many things over my life; I still had many things to learn from him. I guess I’ll have to learn those things on my own. For instance, when I tagged along to Lake Tahoe at age eight. I had never seen snow; I will always remember the beauty of it all. Lee took me atop the bunny slope and taught me how to ski. I learned that; however, he never taught me how to stop. I learned that lesson from the cabin at the bottom of the slope, and quite painfully at that.

Just last year, I took a state test that would display my strengths and weaknesses. One section, "Automotive Understanding" ranked me just below a radiator cap. Big Lee took it upon himself to teach me about cars; we spent hours sitting at the dinner table; myself seated in the corner, Big Lee sitting at the head with a glass of apple cider issuing one long dissertation on the topic of the day. He always sat at the head of the table with his back to the wall. I think he picked that end so he’d never have to turn his back on anybody. If there was another table (which we used for holidays,) Lee could see them as well. Now that seat is empty. Just like all of our hearts, that table has an empty space. God bless you Lee, we will always remember you.

Love,

Adam