Kenneth Eugene “Gene” Rees, 91, of Columbus Junction, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, at the Sunrise Terrace Nursing Home in Winfield. Visitation will be held on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Columbus Junction. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, at 10 a.m. at the Salem Welsh Presbyterian Church of rural Columbus Junction. Burial with military rites will follow the service at the Cambrian Cemetery. There will be a luncheon at the Columbus Junction American Legion following the burial. Memorials in Gene’s name may be made to the Salem Welsh Presbyterian Church, the Cambrian Cemetery, or to Sunrise Terrace.
Kenneth Eugene Rees was born on Aug. 24, 1934, at home in rural Columbus Junction to Howell and Elizabeth Herr Rees. He graduated from Wyman High Schoolin 1952 and attended Iowa State University until 1954. Following college, he spent two years serving his country in the US Army at Fort Sill, Okla., and Fort Lewis, Wash.
Gene was married to Frances Ann Pratt on Feb. 18, 1962, at the Prairie Flower Baptist Church at Washington, Iowa. They farmed near Morning Sun until 1968, when they moved to the home farm near the Salem Welsh Presbyterian Church, rural Columbus Junction, where he was a lifelong member. Gene enjoyed baseball and fishing, and taking annual trips to Wisconsin to enjoy its lakes.
Gene is survived by his wife Fran of Columbus Junction; sons Alan (Sharon) of Kearney, Neb., and Mark (Wendy) of Spencer, Iowa; grandchildren, Collin (Johanna) of New Gloucester, Maine, and Zach (Genna) of Jonesboro, Ark., Levi,Devon & Aubrey of Spencer, Iowa; and great-grandsons Fletcher in Arkansas and Allden in Maine. He is also survived by brother, Harold Rees of Crawfordsville, and multiple cousins in the local area.