John Thornton Rees

A funeral service for John Rees, age 96, of Okoboji, will be held Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 2:00pm at the Legion Hall in Ashton, Iowa. Burial will be at Ashton Cemetery. Visitation will be on Tuesday, July 14th from 6:00-8:00pm at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. John Thornton Rees, the son of LuLu (Thornton) and Joseph Rees was born March 6, 1919 in Thayer, Iowa. After completing high school, John was enlisted into the United States Air Force where he served as an Air Force Pilot. John's grandchildren loved hearing stories of his Air Force career, especially his missions during the Korean War. John was also a test pilot and an instructor pilot and was recognized for having flown 22,000 hours. After his retirement from the Air Force, John used his talents as a savvy businessman in many "ventures". One being developing Loon Lake Golf Course and the real estate surrounding it. After selling the golf course, he enjoyed yachting with family and friends in the Florida Islands. In 1989, he met Marilyn (Sterler Ennema) and later married in 2002. They had many happy years of traveling and going to dances. John enjoyed the fun times spent with their family. Throughout his life, John was a gifted song writer and novelist. Included in his lifetime accomplishments were having his song picked up by a big name artist and having his novel featured in the New York Times. John was member of the Lake Seminole Presbyterian Church in Seminole, Florida, American Legion in Spirit Lake and Ashton, the VFW in Spirit Lake and the Shriners. John passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on July 10, 2015 at the VA Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at ninety-six years of age. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; sons, Jack (Jaime) Rees and Dick (Merleen) Rees; daughters, Nancy Rees and Linda Hill; step-daughter, Rhonda Olson; step-sons, John (Roswitha), Terry, Mark (Cindy), Tom (Kathy Jo) and Mathew (Jenepher); step-daughter-in-law, Jill (Scott) Koedam; many, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; one sister, Lois Morlan and two sister-in-laws, Margaret Rees and Carrie Rees; many, many nieces, nephews and friends. John was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Joe, Dan, Dave and Donald; three sisters, Rosemary, Lola and Phyllis; two step-sons, Ryan Ennema and Kent Olson.