John "Rex" Lees, 87, WWII Veteran and Rex Lees Orchard Owner

Mr. Lees was born July 22, 1915 in Henrietta, Ohio and resided there until moving to Lorain in 1982. He graduated from Henrietta High School in the class of 1932. After graduating, he farmed with his father at the family homestead. They had a weekly butter and egg route in Lorain.

In 1942, he married the former Viola K. Wasem of Birmingham. They celebrated 61 wonderful years of marriage this past July.

Mr. Lees was a decorated WWII veteran and served in the Army Air Corps. He was a bombardier 1st Lieutenant on a B-17 aircraft that was shot down over Sofia, Bulgaria, while on a bombing mission in 1944. He and his crew were captured and held as prisoners of war for nine months.

After his release from prison he returned to his base in Italy and shortly after returned to Sofia where he served for 10 weeks on the first U.S. War Crimes mission. He was wounded in battle and received the Purple Heart. He also received the Air Service Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters and EAME Campaign medal with 2 bronze stars. Upon his discharge from the Armed Services in 1945, he returned to Henrietta where he established and operated Rex Lees Orchard until his retirement in 1977 when he sold the business to his son, William.

He was a lifetime member of the DAV, the Barbed Wire Buckeye Chapter of POW's, 60 year member of the Henrietta Grange, Lorain County Farm Bureau, Lifetime member of the Ohio Horticultural Society and the AARP.

Mr. Lees was survived by his wife of 61 years, Viola K. (nee Wasem) Lees; his son William Rexford Lees of Henrietta, his daughters Patricia A. Selbot of Berlin Heights and Marcia M. Markworth of Cortland, Ohio; five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Mr. Lees was preceded in death by his parents John and Cecelia (nee Mead) Lees; two older brothers, Howard and James Lee and his sister, Helen (nee Lees) Bahr.

Anatomical donation to Case Western Reserve Medical School has been done. A celebration of his life for family and friends will be announced at a later date. Hempel Funeral Home, 373 Cleveland Avenue, Amherst is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to New Life Hospice, 3700 Kolbe Road, Lorain, Ohio 44052 or your favorite charity.