Lowell Lee Vanskike, 90, of Emmaus, died Dec. 17, 2019. He was the husband of the late Thelma June (Sebastian) Vanskike who died February 2006. Born in St. Louis, Mo., he was the son of the late Nellie Rose (Murphy) Vanskike and Lee Vanskike.

During the Korean War he served two years in the U.S. Army as a radio operator at Ft. Louis, Wash. and Salzburg, Austria.

He graduated from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering and from Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, N.J.) with an Master of Science degree in electrical engineering.

He retired in 1987 following 30 years as a member of the technical staff of Bell Labs and Lucent Technologies in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He was a registered professional engineer and a past president of the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the National Society of Professional Engineers.

He was a member of Unami Fish and Game, Emmaus and the Windward Sailing Club, Allentown.

An avid recreational sailor, he spent some of his happiest times sailing the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean with family and friends.

He was a man of many hobbies and passions, including wood carving, cycling, cross-country skiing, reading and genealogy. In his retirement, he took up writing and published several stories about his Idaho adventures in Idaho Magazine and Nostalgia.

He is survived by a son, Dr. Elliott L. and his wife, Dr. Julia M. Schmid, of Takoma Park, Md.; daughters, Beth Sue and her husband, Paul S. Desch, of Pottstown and Karen V. and her husband, Jonathan H. Bouw, of Muncie, Ind.; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.

Contributions may be made to the Emmaus Public Library.

Arrangements were made by the Schantz Funeral Home, P.C., Emmaus.