Louis M. Rees

Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Vandalia.
Officiating will be: Rev. Bob Hoehn and Rev. Paul Catterton.
Music provided by: Ellen Roy - soloist; Carol Kohl - pianist.
Interment will be in Evergreen Memorial Gardens with full military honors.
Pallbearers: Kameron Rees, Langston Rees Lalor, Dale Hopke, Merle Lee Culwell, Herman Wright, Tom Culwell and David Schambach. Honorary pallbearers: Jerry Zimmer, Robert Thompson, Bill LeMasters, Steve Yates and Kenneth Morris.

Louis M. Rees passed away unexpectedly at 5:09 p.m. on Friday, November 16, 2012 at the Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, Missouri. Louis grew up in the Olney area and graduated from Silex High School in 1946. After high school, he worked for Ruben Edwards Hampshire Farm near Olney until joining the U. S. Army in 1951. Louis served his country for two years during the Korean War. Upon his return from the service, he and his wife, Nadine moved to the Vandalia area where he started farming. He retired from farming in 1999, but still helped out on the farm and continued to work as a road district commissioner for over nine years. During his farming years, Louis worked for a couple years at Harbison Walker Refractories in the kiln department and also drove a school bus. He also worked at the Vandalia Bowling Alley, the Vandalia Drive-In, Beedle's Mobil Filling Station and for Charlie Weldy's Construction. Louis also had several different jobs during the winter months. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Vandalia and had been a member of the Jaycee's, Vandalia Rotary Club, Van-Far School Board, Ralls County Fairboard, Tri-County Care Center Board of Directors and the Vandalia Country Club Board. Louis received the Master Farmer Award in 1969. He enjoyed golf, water and snow skiing, hunting and gardening.

Born: August 22, 1928 in Portage Des Sioux, Missouri the son of Jacob Samuel and Mary (Martineau) Rees.

Married: Nadine Baker on October 1, 1950 in Olney, Missouri.

Survivors include: wife, Nadine of Vandalia; one son, Dwane and wife, Elaine Rees of Blue Springs, Missouri; one daughter, Lisa and husband, Terry Filzen of Duluth, Minnesota; one sister, Mary Jane Buckheit of Perryville, Missouri; six grandchildren: Kristin and husband, Jeff Kemery, Kameka Rees, Kameron Rees, Landon Lalor, Langston Lalor and Larkin Lalor; two step-grandchildren: Raquel Filzen and Justin Filzen; two great-grandchildren: Jackson and Oliver Kemery and step-great-granddaughter, Zoei Filzen; also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by: parents; three brothers: Sam Rees, Gene Rees and Jacob Rees; one sister, Bertha Pilkington.

Memorials encouraged to the American Heart Association or to the donor's choice.