Doctor Vincent LeRoy Rees passed away on May 21, 2017 at the age of 104. He was born September 9, 1912 to Veda M. Munk and George L. Rees, M.D. He lived most of his younger years in Smithfield, Utah.
Vin graduated from Utah State University where he affiliated with the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He received his Medical Degree from the University of Chicago and a Masters Degree in Surgery at the University of Michigan. During the summers of his college and medical school years he worked as a temporary ranger in Yellowstone National Park, a job he greatly enjoyed. You should hear his bear stories!
While in his residency training, he met and fell in love with a cute nurse named Audrea (Kay) Kiser. They were married on July 2, 1940 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 1943, with his wife and baby daughter, Vin moved to Salt Lake City where he was appointed Assistant Professor in the newly established Department of Surgery at the University of Utah. He left his full-time teaching job in 1949 to join the Salt Lake Clinic as one of the original founders. While there, Vin served two terms as its President and Medical Director. He was also instrumental in building the first Salt Lake Clinic at 333 South 900 East.
Dr. Rees practiced his profession at LDS Hospital, and while there, established an accredited surgical training program that later merged with the University of Utah College of Medicine.
He was highly respected in the medical community and served as the University's representative for the Utah State Medical Society for several years. He was president of the Salt Lake County Medical Society and staff president at LDS Hospital.
Vin was certified by the American Board of Surgeons and was a member of several surgical societies: American College of Surgeons, The F.A. Coller Surgical Society (founding member), Southwestern Surgical Congress (founding member), American Medical Society, and Salt Lake Surgical Society. He also published several articles relating to surgery.
Vin was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he served in various positions. His favorite calling in life was as a devoted and loving husband to his "Doll," Kay, and as a beloved father to his four children: Carol Carman (Craig), Barbara Paxton Pahnke (Ralph), William (deceased) Rees (Jana Bea), and Debra Whipple (Steve). Kay and Vin nurtured family relationships with holiday traditions and annual vacations in the Tetons. His 16 grandchildren and his 38 great-grandchildren adore him and honor Vin as the classiest grandpa ever! Vin is also survived by his sister Anna Lou Hansen and preceded in death and welcomed home by his parents, his wife Kay, son William, son-in-law Gary Paxton, brother Molen, sister Alda Allan, granddaughter Kelly Carman, and grandson Michael Rees.
Vin was a member of the Dirty Shirts, a group of senior citizens who enjoyed their senior moments while golfing, bowling, and during weekly lunches at Lumpy's!
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 27, 2017, at 12:00 p.m. in the Emigration Fourth Ward Chapel, 589 East Eighteenth Avenue, Salt Lake City, Utah. The family will meet with friends on Friday, May 26th at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday, May 27th at the church from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery, 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, on Tuesday, May 30th at 12:00 p.m.
Our sincere gratitude to the thoughtful caregivers of Cornerstone Home Health and Hospice and the attentive staff of Park Lane Independent Senior Living. Vin Rees will be remembered as a true gentleman who was interested in the well being of others, for his sense of humor and remarkable life stories, for his love of learning, generosity, kindness, positive attitude, integrity, and his genuine love of family and friends.
Vin lived graciously, and patiently waited for his time. He will be forever cherished.
