Tien-yi Lee

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Tien-yi was the eldest child of Ta-cheng Lee and Wei-hsin Shaw. He is survived by his sister, Ching-ju (C.J.) Lee, and brother, Chung-yi Lee.

A gifted student, Tien-yi excelled in math and science but chose to pursue his passion for history, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from National Taiwan University in 1982. He followed his heart, becoming a beloved high school history teacher in Taiwan.

In 1986, Tien-yi immigrated to the United States, where he began working as a programmer while concurrently taking computer programming classes at a community college. His innate aptitude for programming and rapid learning ability propelled him into a successful career with companies including IBA, Ogden, and IBM.

Tien-yi fell in love with Charlevoix, Michigan, during a business trip and made it his home in 2008. After retiring from IBM in 2018, he spent a year living in Paris, his favorite place on earth. Throughout his life, he had a deep appreciation for history, art, music, theater, and nature. He enjoyed swimming, biking, and was fond of cuisine, particularly French cuisine.

Tien-yi was always the smart one, the ambitious one, the energetic one, and never afraid to reach higher. He lived with a fire in his heart, a passion that lit up everything he touched. Whether he was chasing a dream, helping a friend, or simply being himself, he both surprised and inspired all of us.

He was driven, accomplished, and yet always authentic, unapologetically himself. To his parents, he was a son to be proud of. To his siblings, a free spirit to be admired. To many, he was a fearless pursuer of his goals, embracing life with unwavering determination and inspiring awe in those around him.

Ga Ga (brother), I miss you. I wish you had stayed. I don’t know how to even begin to carry the weight of your absence. May you find peace, joy, and freedom in the afterlife.

Arrangements are in the care of the Charlevoix Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. Please sign his online guestbook at www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com