Lee E. Gausman, 79, died December 8, 2022, at UPMC Hamot after suffering a massive stroke.  He was born on February 22, 1943 in Kane to the late Francis and Mary Gausman.  On June 7, 1969, he married Nancy Jean Smith, who survives.

    Lee was a 1961 graduate of Kane High and grew up working alongside his father as a mechanic at Gausman’s Garage.  He developed an interest in welding and was largely a self-taught fabricator.  Lee eventually took over the garage and grew his fabricating business, working mostly on log trucks.  He was also a beloved school bus contractor and driver for many years.  A jack-of-all trades, Lee could fabricate most anything and fix almost everything.  He had many fond memories of the friends he made over the years at the garage,

    An avid outdoorsman, Lee enjoyed hunting, bench-rest shooting, and fishing on Chautauqua Lake.  He spent much of his time in the summer at his cottage on Loomis Bay.  In his later years, Lee and Nancy spent winters near South Padre Island, Texas, where they enjoyed the nice weather and time with their dogs.  He was a life-long member of St. Callistus Church and the Kane Fish and Game Club.  Lee was a kind and generous man and well-respected in the Kane community.

      He is survived by his wife, two sons, Roger (Emily) Gausman of Warren, David (Shelly Timpano) Gausman of Kane, and a daughter, Mary (Bert Cleer) Gausman, also of Kane.  He has five grandchildren:  Jack Jones, Noah Gausman, Kallee Gausman, Aaron Gausman, and Andy Gausman.  He also has two step-grandchildren, Seth Woolcock of State College and Austin Woolcock of Curwensville. He also has a surviving stepbrother, Jim Mague.

     In addition to his parents, Lee was preceded in death by a stepbrother, Robert Mague of Kane.

    Viewings will be held on Tuesday, December 13 from 2 – 4 PM and 7 – 9 PM at the Cummings Funeral Home, Greeves Street in Kane.  A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Callistus on Wednesday, December 14 at 11:00 AM, with the Rev. Philip Pinczewski and the Rev. William O’Brien, as celebrants. Interment will follow in St. Callistus Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Kane Fish and Game Club, P.O. Box 621, Kane, PA 16735 or the McKean County SPCA, 80 Glenwood Ave., Bradford, PA 16701.

Online condolences can be expressed at www.cummingsfh.com