Donald REESE

Donald Reese, 93, passed away on July 13, 2005 in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. He was born to Phyllis (Sheridan) and Thomas John Reese, January 30, 1912 in Elyria, Ohio. He was the 2nd of 8 children.He married Velma Sommer February 3, 1940 and had two daughters, Donna & Lynne. Don and Velma spent 60 happy years together.He was a member of the Civil Patrol on the Texas coast in WW II. He was a Mason and a charter member of the Lake Havasu Lions Club & was an active participant in the London Bridge Dedication Ceremonies in 1971. He was also a member of the LHC Volunteer Fire Department. He and Velma enjoyed motor homing roaming the country and were members of FMCA and the Colorado River Ramblers. He was an avid fisherman enjoying boating and all water activities. An enthusiastic golfer, he won a 2nd place trophy in March of 2001, at the age of 89 in the Lions Club Charity Tournament. Don loved children and was an active participant in his grandchildren’s lives, teaching them to fish and play golf as early as age two. One grandson said “He taught me how to stay calm in a crisis”.Don was enterprising and wore many hats during his life. He was a heavy equipment operator, welder and owned his own landscape design and maintenance business. He worked for the USI Chemical plant in Tuscole, Illinois before moving to Arizona in 1968.In moving to Lake Havasu City, Don pursued a real estate investment and acquired the apartments at Smoketree and Mesquite Ave, renaming them “The Reese Apartments”. He owned and operated these for many years. In later years he sold real estate and earned Salesman of the Year Award. He was proud of his pioneer status and was always eager to talk about Havasu as it was in the beginning. He was loved and will be missed by many.Don is survived by his daughters Donna Yoh (Charles) of Hollister, Missouri, Lynne Chong (Bruce) of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, sister Marianne Baldwin of Fullerton, California, brother Jack Reese (Marge) of Florissant, Missouri, grandchildren Doug, Tina, Betsy, Jim, Bradley, Kevin, Kerri and 13 great grandchildren.Funeral Services will be held on Monday July 18, 2005 at 10:00 A.M. at the Lietz-Fraze Chapel with Rev. Richard Tatham officiating. Inurnment will be on Tuesday July 19, 2005 at Lake Havasu Memorial Gardens.Donation may be made in Don’s name to Hospice of Havasu P. O. Box 597, Lake Havasu City, Arizona 86405.Condolences can be sent to Don’s family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com.Arrangements were entrusted to Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory.