Jeffrey Linley Rees died on Aug. 13, 2024, at the age of 77 after dealing with end-stage kidney disease for 6½ years. He was surrounded by his loving spouse, Janet, and his four children, Linley (Richard) Heath and Dorianne Rees of West Liberty, Evan (Bekah) Rees, and Secily Rees of Lawrence, Kan. His grandchildren were also close by his side: Carson (Nelly) Heath, Reynolds Heath, Wesley Heath, and Winifred Luper-Rees.
Jeffrey was born in Aurora Ill., in 1946, the son of Herbert and Dorothy Jean (Heck) Rees. At four years of age, his family moved to Salina, Kan. He graduated from Salina Senior High School in Salina in 1964. He married Janet (Spangler) Rees on July 5, 1970, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Salina. Jeffrey and Janet moved to West Liberty after retiring in 2010 in order to be close to grandsons as they grew up.
Jeffrey completed his bachelor’s degree in philosophy at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., a master’s degree in philosophy at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., another bachelor’s degree in accounting at the University of Missouri in St. Louis, Mo., and finally a law degree at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan.
His passion in life, other than family, was his membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was an avid Contract Bridge Player and was recognized as a Life Master by the American Contract Bridge League. He will be remembered for his love of languages, worthless information, canned spaghetti, and meatballs, speaking backwards, rock and roll music (he knew the words to a bazillion songs), and playing Santa for the city of West Liberty. Jeffery considered himself a Libertarian.
Jeffrey was particularly grateful for the nurses, technicians, and the social worker at the University of Iowa Dialysis Center in Muscatine.
He was preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Jean Rees, and his sister Judi Swaggerty. He will be missed by his family, including his sister Jane (James) Oakley of Eureka, Kan., and his niece Jennifer Harris of Topeka, Kan., and nephew Will Harris of Lawrence, Kan. He was one of a kind, loved by many and he will be missed.
Donations can be made in his name to the West Liberty Area Arts Council, PO Box 390, West Liberty, IA 52776, the ASPCA or the charity of your choice. Services will be held on Saturday Aug. 24, at 10:30 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2902 Lucas St, Muscatine, IA 52761.
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