Obituary: Reeves, John William, Sr.
Age 86
John was born to Alva and Mary Reeves on August 31, 1926, in Sandpoint, Idaho.
After graduating from Sandpoint High School in 1944, he enlisted in the Navy and went to training at Farragut.
He served in the Navy for two years from 1944 to 1946 on the LSM120 landing ship as a Radar Operator.
His ship landed in Hiroshima less than a month after the dropping of the atomic bomb as part of a clean-up crew.
John’s war service with its images of kamikazes and death left a lasting impression and remained the pivotal event of his life; it’s fitting that he left us on Memorial weekend.
Shortly after returning from war, he married the love of his life Shannon Patricia (Pat) Sletager and moved to Spokane.
Upon getting his Business degree from Kinman College, he went to work for GMAC for the next 41 years where he retired as Accounting Manager in 1990.
Recreationally, John enjoyed music, fishing, tennis, golf and coin collecting.
He was a Shriner and a member of the VFW and American Legion.
Pat and John were married for 62 years before Pat’s passing in August, 2009.
They were fair minded and accepting people who welcomed all to their home without regard to problems or differences.
They instilled that value and a strong sense of family in their children.
John is survived by his brother Alva and wife Leona of Grand Coulee; four children, all of Spokane: Rhonda Hughes, John (Gayle) Reeves Jr, Shannon (John) Kapek, Meagan Fennen; and 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
A family gathering and interment of both John and Pat will be held in August at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake.
Donations in John’s memory can be made to the Spokane Shriner’s Hospital.
John’s family would like to thank the Spokane Veteran’s Home staff for the extraordinary care they took of John and the many kindnesses shown to him and us throughout his stay.