Lee Arthur Burgard was born on February 2, 1952 in Monroe, Michigan as the second child of Arthur and Ella (Hartwig) Burgard.

He was a 1970 graduate of Dundee High School and attended Michigan State University.

Lee married Rebecca Kay Zellers on May 30, 1981 in Hancock, Ohio. They had one son.

Lee died at the age of 65 on November 23, 2017 in Mount Blanchard, Hancock County, Ohio.