John William Lees was born in Griswold, Iowa on April 30, 1917, and passed away on January 1, 2011 at Hospice of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO. at the age of 93 years and 8 months.


Mr. Lees grew up in the Oakland, Iowa area, farming, later working at Northern Natural Gas Company and then working for Lester Pfister Seed Corn Company as the regional sales manager for an area of Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas.


He retired in 1978 and moved to Loveland Colorado with his wife, Donna Glee Lees.

They were active in the building of and the church activities of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Loveland where they were faithful members.

John Lees enjoyed his family and friends, had a great sense of humor and loved people, pinochle, picnics and traveling around the world with his wife and friends. He leaves many good and humorous memories with those who survive him.


John and Donna Lees moved to their daughter and son in law's home, Kathryn Lees and Rick Rios of Johnstown, CO in February, 2007 where they resided until their passing. John Lees was predeceased by his wife of 71 years, Donna Glee Lees, his parents, Joe and Flossie Lees, his brother, Gordon Lees, and his grandson, Steven Lees. He was also predeceased by his grandaughters, Cindy and Terri Lees.

He is survived by his four children, John Lees and wife Pam of Montrose, Colorado; David Lees and wife, Lisa of Claremore, Oklahoma; Stephen Lees and Mauryne of San Francisco, CA; and daughter, Kathryn Lees of Johnstown, CO, his sisters, Esther Williams of Rock Springs, Wyoming, Phyllis Laber of Malvern, Iowa, and his cousin Charles Lees and wife JoAnn of Avoca, Iowa. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jeffrey Lees and Kim, of Cottage Grove, Minnesota; Mitchell Lees and wife Kristen of Houston, Texas; Tiffany Lees Skinner and Beth of Iowa City, IA; Kimberly Little and Jim of Casper, WYO; Christian Lees and Julie of Ventura, CA.; and Susannah Vargas and husband, Erik, of Johnstown, CO, Kristine and Cory Kleindienst, of Council Bluffs, IA and Kala and Tom Morrissey, of Papillion, Nebraska and USAF Staff Sgt. Kaleb King, stationed in Guam. John Lees is also survived by 18 great grandchildren. He will be missed by all.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, January 6, 2011 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Oakland. Visitation with the family will be held on Wednesday from 6-7:30 PM at the Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland. Interment will be at the Oaklawn Cemetery at Oakland. Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Loveland, CO or to Hospice of Northern Colorado, 2726 W. 11th Street Road, Greeley, CO 80634.