William "Bill" Lees

February 9, 1921 - June 19, 2018

William Harry Lees February 9, 1921 – June 19, 2018 Bill Lees, age 97, of Boone, Iowa passed away Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at the Eastern Star Home. He graduated from Boone High School in 1938, from Boone Junior College in 1940 and from the University of Nebraska in 1965. Bill married Inez Elizabeth Choate of Midland, TX. March 7, 1942. Their marriage lasted two days short of 75 years. He served in the Army Air Corps and the Air Force for 30 years before retiring to Boone. Bill held many positions during his career that began as a meteorologist and ended as an inspector with the Office of the 10th Air Force Inspector General. In the interim, and in addition to his stateside assignments, Bill served overseas in Saipan, Newfoundland, Alaska, Spain, Ethiopia and Brazil. His assignment in Ethiopia and Brazil included duties as Purchasing and Contracting Officer for the Air Force in connection with the U.S. State Department project of mapping those countries. During the last years of his Air Force career Bill commuted weekly between Boone and the bases near Omaha, Kansas City, Waverly, and Sioux City. In 2015, he participated in an Honor Flight to Washington D.C. Upon retiring from the Air Force in 1970, Bill was employed by Plasti-Arts Corporation in Boone as Administrative and Quality Assurance Manager. Later he and Inez owned and operated the Topper Motel in Boone. Bill was keenly interested in genealogy. He served as president of both the Iowa and Boone County Genealogical Societies. He was a member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and was President of the Iowa Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. As part of those memberships, Bill represented Iowa as the Iowa Trustee to the National Headquarters of the SAR for 35 years through 2016. In 1992 he was named a Minuteman for his service to the National Society of the SAR, the highest award for a member. Bill was committed to many civic organizations at the local, state and national levels. He was honored and proud to serve each organization in leadership capacities. Bill was a life-long member of the First Baptist Church of Boone and served on its Finance Committee. During his 60 year membership with MT. Olive Masonic Lodge, he was a Past Master. Bill was a 60 year member of the Scottish Rite and was also a member of the York Rite. He was a 32nd degree Mason. He was a Treasurer of the Boone Historical Society, as well as a lifetime member and tour guide on the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad. Bill was recognized by the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) as Volunteer of the Year. He also served Boone as a City Councilman and played a major role in the restoration of Boone Memorial Gardens Cemetery. He was the owner of a Iowa Century Farm for more than 50 years. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Inez, his parents, a brother and two sisters. Surviving are his daughter Patricia Bambridge (husband Jack) of Phoenix, AZ, Rita Bancroft (husband Jay) of Humboldt, IA and son Randal (wife Connee) of Clive, IA along with seven grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. Funeral Services will be 11:00 am Friday, June 22, 2018 at First Baptist Church 612 8th Street, Boone, IA with Rev. Janell Bloem officiating. There will be a Masonic Service at 9:30 followed by visitation with the family present to greet friends from 10:00 am until the time of the service at First Baptist Church. Interment will be at 12:30 Friday at Boone Memorial Gardens with full military honors. Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church or the Sons of the American Revolution. Online condolences may be left at www.schroederfuneral.com. Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home 609 7th Street, Boone, IA 50036 515-432-4550