Ilana Lee McBain, 66, died Saturday, April 26, 2014. Lee grew up in La Crosse, graduating from Logan in 1966. She worked for Trane Co. for 10 years, and managed the office of her parents’ tool & die shop before moving to FL in 1980. After 16 years in FL, Lee moved to NC, where she lived for 11 years, owning and operating a gift shop with sisters Dawn and Teresa. In 2007 Lee was happily reunited with her one true love, Reed K. Kopecky, and moved back to La Crosse. Reed and Lee spent many loving years together, living in LaCrosse and traveling.

Lee loved all creatures, great and small. She enjoyed painting just about anything, but in particular, pet portraits. She also loved gardening, fishing, crocheting, critter-watching, and many other arts and crafts.

Lee is survived by the love of her life, Reed, her mother, Nellie M. McBain of La Crosse, sister Laurel P. Stewart (Craig) of Atascadero, CA, an incomparable circle of girlfriends, and many other relatives and good friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Patrick A. McBain, and two sisters, Dorinda Dawn McBain and Teresa A. McBain.

Lee wished that any memorials be donated to the Coulee Region Humane Society for the care of cats, who were her special friends. Lee’s ashes will be scattered at a later date in the Scatter Garden behind Carroll Heights/Hillview Nursing Home, where she will join other members of her family. A celebration of Lee’s life will be held in the chapel at Hillview Nursing Home on Friday, May 2, 2014 at 11 a.m with a visitation one hour prior to the sevice in the nursing home chapel. Pastor Scott Skogen will officiate. Coulee Region Cremation Group is handling arrangements.