William James Rees

William James Rees, MD, born July 13, 1922 in Kansas City, Missouri passed away November 1, 2015 at his home in Edmonds.He graduated in 1942 with a Bachelor of Arts from Rockhurst College in Kansas City, MO and in 1946 with a Doctor of Medicine from St. Louis University. Bill served in the United States Army Medical Corps, active duty, from 1946 to 1949. Bill proudly served in the United States Army Reserve until 1986 attaining the rank of Colonel. Bills military service included assignments as a Battalion Surgeon with the 82nd Airborne Division Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Chief of Medicine, 155th Station Hospital in Yokohama, Japan, and Commanding Officer, 8th Station Hospital in Kobe, Japan.After returning to the States from Army service in Japan, Bill completed a Master of Public Health from the University of Minnesota in 1950 and married Marybeth whom he first met when he was 14. Bill completed a residency in Internal Medicine in 1951, and returned to school while in his 40s for a second residency in Dermatology in 1965. Over the course of 33 years he honored his profession through opportunities and responsibilities in medicine, public health, dermatology and pharmaceutical research. Bill lived in Japan, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and several states, traveled to 42 countries, and enjoyed his contacts with friends and family that spanned the world.Bill was preceded in death by his brother Tom and his wife of 55 years, Marybeth. Bill was the beloved father to 5 daughters: Virginia Low of Shoreline, Diane Stokke of Seattle, Carolyn Newell of Spokane, Karen Fick of Kingston and Mary Noel Rees of Bellevue. Bill was the beloved grandfather to 13 grandchildren: Jennifer, Monika, Sabina, Michelle, Megan, Carly, Tess, Ben, Jake, Sarah, Ryan, Lauren and Julia, and 8 great-grandchildren: Sophia, Aidan, Maddie, Andreas, Nikos, Michael, Nora and Ethan. We all loved him very much and will miss him greatly. A Vigil Service will be held at 7 PM November 11, 2015 at Becks Funeral Home, 405 5th Ave. S. Edmonds, WA with a Funeral Mass to be held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Edmonds at 11 AM November 12, 2015.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Rockhurst University, 1100 Rockhurst Road, Kansas City, Missouri or a charity of your choice in honor of William J. Rees, M.D. Old Paratroopers never die. They just drop out of sight.